Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Braves Rework Plans After Jurickson Profar’s 162-Game PED Suspension

The unpaid ban creates roughly $15 million in flexibility, prompting Atlanta to weigh in-house platoons over a thin market.

Overview

  • Profar faces a season-long suspension for a second PED violation, moving to the restricted list and forfeiting his $15 million 2026 salary.
  • An appeal is expected through the MLBPA, though full reversals are unprecedented and reductions have been rare, with past cases like Michael Pineda’s limited cut.
  • Atlanta also avoids roughly $3 million in luxury-tax payments, giving president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos unexpected payroll room.
  • The loss tightens an already strained roster as Ha-Seong Kim recovers from hand surgery and pitchers Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep recover from elbow procedures.
  • The Braves are considering Mike Yastrzemski and Eli White as an internal DH/outfield platoon while external choices narrow after Andrew McCutchen agreed with the Rangers, with other names mentioned only as speculative options.