Jurickson Profar‘s appeal of his 162-game suspension for a second positive PED test was unsuccessful, reports ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Profar will serve the entire 162-game suspension, missing all of the 2026 season, and will be ineligible for postseason play if Atlanta qualifies. He will not be paid his $15MM salary this season, which means the Braves will also be spared the $3MM of luxury taxes they’d have paid on his contract this season.
Whether Atlanta plans to reinvest any of that $18MM in savings remains to be seen. There’s been little indication the Braves are actively seeking external additions to this point, though it’s certainly possible they were waiting for absolute certainty regarding Profar’s status before spending any additional funds. The Braves were already pushing a franchise-record payroll at the time of Profar’s suspension, and there was ample speculation that perhaps the team was at or near its budgetary limit, given the lack of urgency shown despite three notable injuries in their rotation this spring. Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep both had loose bodies removed from their right elbows, and left-hander Joey Wentz was lost for the season due to an ACL tear.
There aren’t many free agents of note for Atlanta to consider, although righty Lucas Giolito stands as one obvious exception. Southpaw Tyler Anderson also remains unsigned. The Braves could also look into any number of veterans who have the right to opt out of minor league contracts around the league over the next week. MLBTR recently profiled 33 such players. No one from that group would command significant money, but it at least gives Atlanta president of baseball operations some additional options to consider if he’s looking to augment his roster following Profar’s departure.
Profar is still under contract with the Braves through 2027, when he’ll be owed $15MM in the final season of what’s become a disastrous three-year, $42MM contract. It’s not yet clear how the Braves will proceed with him, though since he’ll spend the entire 2026 season on the restricted list, there’s no urgency for them to make the decision. With two PED suspensions under his belt, Profar is now one positive test away from becoming just the second player to ever receive a lifetime ban following three positive PED tests. He’d join right-hander Jenrry Mejia in holding that dubious distinction.
Lot of cash to lose…
He is now working at Chipotle. No offense to Chipotle.
Now go sign Giolito
Just seems logical but at what price?
At this point, low base, incentive based on starts or innings pitched.
Honestly, I’m pretty surprised Gio hasn’t found a job yet. With the price of pitching, I’d have surely thought somebody would’ve taken a flier on him by now, given his reasonably solid history and durability aside from 2024.
There is a reason no team has signed him.
There’s a reason why no teams have signed him.
They have plenty of guys that give up long home runs. He’s not on any team for a reason.
Why? I rather sign Tyler Anderson to a $5M conttact than Giolito at the $18M he is asking.
No!!
You do the crime, you do the time.
See ya Profar, we barely knew ya…
You think the Braves will cut Profar and eat 15 mil? Don’t think that is how it will play out. Short leash, but roster spot for 2027 seems likely.
No he’ll be here in 27′ (minus the doom and gloom about no 27′ season)….now a salary dump trade may be a real possibility to a competing team looking for a DH/4th outfielder.
Braves would have to eat at least half of Profar’s ’27 salary to dump him. And I can’t see the Braves keeping him. Based on his pre-2024(pre-PED) he’s a 92 wRC+ performer who can’t play defense worth a damn. AA simply didn’t do his homework on this one.
Yes and a 34 year old just coming off a full year away from competitive baseball will make it nearly unlikely. But not impossible, teams have done dumber things. Just look at AA’s own salary dump trade for Fletcher lol.
I agree salary dump is the most likely path forward, barring a third suspension. He’s obviously burned his bridge in Atlanta, but they won’t dump him for nothing.
I don’t think anyone is taking him unless the Braves eat 90+% of that contract.
Burned his bridge in Atlanta?
Dude went 13 year olds first time with a flamethrower mode. He burned all the bridges, the buildings, and the lumberyard.
Yeah, agreed. I still think he has some value but the fact that he can’t showcase it at all means 2027 is a lot of guesswork.
I dont get guys repeatedly failing tests. He just got popped last season. Why on earth would he think he could keep cheating just to get popped again? Are some people just that mind bogglingly stupid?
He was dinged for different drugs both times so it maybe be he thought he could game it with a different drug or he noticed he didn’t actually get busted for PEDs the first time around. The first time wasn’t actually for PEDs it was for a masking agent used after a cycle of PEDs. The second time was for actual PEDs so he probably decided to go off the thing that got caught only to no longer have the masking agent and get caught again.
The takeaway is the PED industry needs to step up their game in the masking agent department.
I imagine the PED industry is doing just fine and Profar is just an idiot that didn’t follow directions.
IMO Profar should have known better he thought he could cheat the system and it blew up in his face I think Atlanta should cut their losses and be done with him and put the 18m to better use not nesscerely on Giolito thou
Braves do not have $18m to spend as a result of Profar’s suspension. Yes, they will save $18m if they don’t spend elsewhere(which I won’t put past the Braves btw) but if they spend $15m elsewhere they will be taxed $3m(20%)because they are over the first tax threshold.
The Josh Gordon method of doing banned substances
Actually, Chazz Michael Michaels-level mind bottling stupid.
Yes
To the surprise of absolutely no one.
To the surprise of absolutely nobody.
haha
He bailed on the Netherlands team without saying a word when he got popped
Not exactly, failing that PED test disqualified him from the WBC too
I feel zero sympathy for him and i wish the Braves would just cut him. But knowing how they handled Ozuna, they won’t. Ozuna ended up making us forget what a trainwreck he was there for a while but Profar is crushing us. The announcement of this suspension came out at a terrible time, so late in the offseason it’s near impossible for the Braves to get a replacement or even a quality player at a different position
If they cut him, they are on the hook for next year’s salary. If they don’t cut him and he gets popped again, they are in the clear. I would be willing to wait that out.
@CubsKev — I’d wondered that, but would they still be on the hook if there’s a work stoppage cutting into his salary, much like the pandemic-affected 2020 season only paying prorated salaries?
Players don’t get paid during work stoppages.
If this is the case I’m sure the Braves don’t even entertain cutting him.
His “replacement” is Mike Yastrzemski. What people are mad about there is that they didn’t sign McCutchen because he was a name and “cheap.” So maybe they have little choice but to play Eli White more. Which wouldn’t be the worst thing ever.
Eli White should be a starting janitor.
No, that’s my job.
I bullish on Yaz. He’s a good all around player and Atlanta will get the best out of him.
I love yaz but he can’t hit lefty’s and Profar was expected to be primarily a DH, so Yaz isn’t exactly his replacement. We need a righty bat that can hit lefty’s.
Dubon can make a good platoon with Yaz when Kim returns… he hits lefties well. When Murphy returns a catcher can DH most of the time. Farmer/Smith platoon at DH until then.
outfield: I agree 100%
Ozuna was a completely different case. His domestic violence accusations were overly exaggerated, although his DUI wasn’t. Profar already had a second chance and he blew it.
Short of him donating half his salary to the Braves foundation, I don’t see how the Braves keep him next year.
I mean, there was a video that showed him putting his hands around a woman’s neck. Both him and Profar are honestly not in much different boats other than the ped rules are much stricter in baseball that everything Ozuna did… which is kind of ironic. Look, Braves aren’t cutting profar so rather we are right or wrong, really doesn’t make a difference
Good!!!!
Poor Guy
Well deserved. Now use that payroll space for Giolito. Although I’m starting to wonder if Gio wants to wait to sign until June. That would give him more time to recover, build up slowly, showcase for teams, etc. If he’s lucky, some team will get desperate enough to give him a better deal than what he’s been offered so far.
For Giolito to still be on the market, something must not look right in his medicals.
Stop using Soul Glo. It doesn’t work.
Quick question, any Braves fans thinking “What a blow to the team” or is there just some mild celebration going on.
What’s the appeal based on?
League: You’re appealing?
Profar: Yes.
League: On what basis?
Profar: On the basis that I still want money.
League: Did you take PED’s?
Profar: Well…yes…
League: Appeal rejected.
As a Braves fan I wish someone would want him. I kind of felt sorry for him last year, thought maybe he was taking something that he did not know what it was. This year is different, he’s a cheater, wish we could trade him, but I think you would have to pay someone to take him. Cut him loose, it’s better than having the circus around you wherever you go.
I am really curious how he looks in ’27. A year older, but he was good on a rate basis last year.
I’m pretty sure no team is going to want to touch him without constant testing, which I doubt the players uniting would agree to.
I think a switch-hitter with a league average or better bat still gets a ML deal, if only for league minimum. Not as a starter necessarily, but you could do far worse as a bench option.
He has a ML deal. He’s thrown away half of that contract already
I’m talking hypothetically about 28 and beyond.
I didn’t think it’s hypothetical to say he won’t get another shot after this contact is over.
Twice popped for PEDs, age, and the chance he will do it again just for another contract? Way too much risk for someone who has shown himself to be an idiot.
No one’s going to rely on him as a starter for sure, but I think if he’s still producing at 35 he’s got value as a 4th/5th OF and bench bat for a cheap/rebuilding club.
We’ll have to revisit this at some point. His established numbers are under scrutiny. He wasn’t great before his year in San Diego when he was in his athletic prime, and now obviously using peds .
So the experience he brings to the table is PED usage. And he’s obviously not good at that either.
Maybe but maybe not. Regardless, the Braves are on the hook for his 2027 salary. They might as well try to get something out of him, worst case scenario and Profar does PEDs again then they don’t owe him anything. Even if they do release him, whatever team picks him up is only on the hook for league minimum and again, lose nothing if he tests positive again. The biggest question would be more along the lines of would you really want him in your clubhouse?
Isn’t there something about testing becoming less random for players who already have a positive test?
Braves have a lot of extra money to spend now. Any chance they want Grisham or Stanton?? Haha. I’d rather take my chances with Jones or Dominez at a much cheaper price. Or possibly revisit getting Kwan to lead off for Yankees
It’s Dominguez, man. You don’t have to like him, but at least get his name right. The extra money the Braves have is $15M ($3M penalty for going over the limit totalling $18M) and the Yankees want to dump Grisham for $15M cash while they are on the hook for $22M+? I don’t think so.
Clear case of a player who knows he can’t produce enough without ‘help’. His pre-2024 production was below MLB average(92 wRC+). Why would the Braves want that kind of production as a DH???.. he’s played his last game as Brave.
I think he has played his last game for his career nobody is going to want a cheater on there team Profar Astros on line 1 lol
If players can play somebody will want them. The Phils still have Alvarado around, because he’s a useful reliever. They obviously don’t care if he’s a “cheater” if he can help them win.
Not much of a market for a 92 wRC+ producer who can’t play a lick of defense.
I was under the impression that suspended players are still paid out by the club, but then the money is taken from the paycheck and given to the league charity fund. Like if you get suspended for bumping an umpire for 5 games, your paycheck just gets docked and funneled to the league. Is the policy for steroids different?
Everyone keeps reporting the Braves get the money back and save on the luxury tax hit but I think the Braves still pay, just Profar doesn’t get the money, MLB charities and the Baseball Assistance Fund does.
That’s incorrect…Braves are entirely off the hook for the $15m.
Why though? Why is steroid suspensions treated differently than everything else? Why does a team get bailed out in only this scenario? When a cheater gets caught with sticky stuff, the team is harshly punished they don’t get salary relief or roster relief. Everyone is saying this is the case but it isn’t how any other suspension or fine works in this sport. The team is always on the hook for the full salary amount during a suspension the player just doesn’t get the money, it goes to charity.
D2323, I’m not trying to be rude but if this is true could you tell me where you found this information.
Let’s have Steve investigate and write and write an article
He doesn’t collect his salary. The Braves are off the hook for it while he’s on the restricted list.
D2323…I believe you’re confusing fine $$$ with suspensions. Fines for players go to charities. Loss of pay the teams recoup.
That 15 million severance retirement coming next year says, he don’t ever need to use enhancements ever again. It was better than the kids robbing a liquor store ever get in life. These contracts are insane, but that’s the nature of the beast, and due diligence can’t be done enough. Such is life.
What a loser
After his last suspension
Profar called it the “most difficult day of my baseball career” and said he would never knowingly cheat.
“This is especially painful for me because anyone who knows me and has seen me play knows I am deeply passionate about the game,” he said in a statement. “There is nothing I love more than competing with my teammates and being a fan favorite. I want to apologize to the entire Braves organization, my teammates and the fans.
Well, he was obviously reading a statement that someone had prepared for him.
Spend the $18M? LMAO. We have Didier Fuentes dealing right now
– Terry McGuirk, probably
I’m okay with the Braves self imploding
This guy is a genius.
Used PEDs and got his big free agent contract. Considering his age, it might have been his last big contact. So there was no need to take chances
He then proceeds to lose 1.5 years money of a 3 year contract in less than a year with the team. I hope he gets popped again and loses the remaining year.
What a complete idiot!! Losing the money and sitting out an entire season all because u used PED’s to gain an unfair advantage by cheating. Complete moron
MLBPeeA confirmed
The contract hasn’t been disastrous at all. He produced when he was actually playing, and he wasn’t paid while he has been suspended.
That’s actually a good point, didn’t think of it that way. It is disastrous to leave an entire team scrambling for a capable starter mere weeks before the season begins though….Side note, can Profar juice up for the next 6 months and then cycle off the next 6 months after and be cleared for 27? One last hoorah? lol (Seriously? Wonder if he’s tested while on suspension)
This a gift from Profar. Hopefully they use the money at the trade deadline. Player for a cash to a seller. Watch the Braves be in the thick of it.
Atlanta Trevor Bauer on line 1 he has stated that he wants to come back to MLB and he would play for the minimum I wonder is he still playing in the Mexican League Atlanta has nothing to lose by giving him a chance maybe he can beat some sense into Profar lol
If the owners don’t use this as an example of why a contract should be completely voided after second offense during the contract, then they are idiots
@Profar 😡
Good news Braves fans, including me.
Good things come to those who wait. All those people who said they should release him last year. They would have had to pay him about 35 million to do so. Now we got a half a year of production last year and we don’t have to pay him a dime this year. I would wait and see if he tests positive next year before I cut him, 😆.
Profar is going to be in an odd predicament in 2027. He’s going to want the salary so he’s going to try to come back. But he may have become so reliable on the juice that he may not longer be an MLB caliber player and risks a lot of embarrassment. Profar will be an excellent DFA candidate next year because the Braves won’t have anything to lose since they’re already on the hook for him. I think it’s quite likely he makes the team, stinks, and is ignominiously DFA’d.
“Risks a lot of embarrassment”?
This idiot has been popped twice, twice, for PED usage. His amazing comeback year with the Padres is understandable knowing this. He’s old, he’s thrown away money because of his ego and stupidity, and he’ll never get another contract in MLB.
He’s the poster boy for stupid in MLB. Stupid people aren’t embarrassed easily.
So according to the Athletic, it was reported that Profar abruptly left Ed Smith stadium after learning of the failed test 10 minutes before a WBC game while in the lineup to leadoff. A proud man stays and faces his teammates. An embarrassed man runs away.
As for future embarrassment, Profar had clearly become reliant on the PEDs or he would have stopped using them. He’ll have to demonstrate a proficiency to play MLB without enhancement. And what gets even more fascinating is that he’ll have to play the entire season without failing a test to collect his money because if he tests positive his contract is voided. ATL may not release him. If he can’t cut it at the MLB level he could be in AAA just playing out the string. Profar will play to collect. ATL will be hoping for a failed test. It would be really amusing to watch a guy making $21 million a year in the lineup every day at AAA.