ATLANTA -- Whether Jurickson Profar will remain with the Braves during the 2027 regular season may not be determined until the end of Spring Training.
“We realize it's something we're going to have to address,” Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said. “But we’d like to get through the winter and have a better handle on what the roster looks like and what’s going to happen between now and Spring Training with signings, role [determinations] and all that stuff.”
In other words, the Braves aren’t going to make an unnecessary immediate emotional decision. Releasing Profar now would create no financial or roster benefit. That could change as the offseason progresses.
Profar has played just 80 games since signing a three-year, $42 million deal before the 2024 season. He received an 80-game suspension when he tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance in 2024 and a 162-game suspension when he tested positive again before the start of this past season.
Because Profar hasn’t been paid during either of his two suspensions, his financial cost over the past two seasons has been approximately $6 million. The more significant cost came from how his absence affected a lineup that was designed to depend on his right-handed bat.
Barring another suspension, Profar will be paid the guaranteed $15 million salary attached to the final season of his three-year deal.
Profar’s presence in the clubhouse could create a distraction as he attempts to regain the trust of the teammates he’s now let down twice. But even if you don’t account for emotions, you have to question how effective he would be after playing just 80 MLB games over the past two seasons.
With that said, Profar is currently playing in the Venezuelan Winter League. Through Wednesday, he's hitting .315 with a homer, 14 RBIs and a .770 OPS through 14 games for La Guaira.
“We haven't come to any conclusions at all,” Anthopoulos said. “But look, it's a topic. It's something that's going to need to be addressed at some point. The good news is it doesn't have to be addressed today, because we have the off season and the roster can change and things can change.”
Here are three options for how the Braves can handle Profar:
Wait and see
If the 2027 season started today, Mike Yastrzemski would be the Braves’ primary left fielder. Anthopoulos could attempt to find a right-handed hitter to platoon with Yastrzemski. He could also attempt to find a right-handed hitter to fill the role on an everyday basis.
Or, instead of eating $15 million in salary, he could have the switch-hitting Profar serve as the right-handed portion of the platoon and a DH option when Drake Baldwin is behind the plate.
Profar’s produced his finest season in 2024, when he hit 24 homers (23.5 AB/HR) and constructed an .839 OPS for the Padres. He produced a similar home run ratio (22.7 AB/HR) while homering 14 times and constructing a .787 OPS in 80 games for Atlanta in 2025.
Would this level of production be worth the initial clubhouse distraction? Maybe. It will be easier to weigh the decision once the Braves learn whether they have other options.
Trade him
Before saying Profar is untradeable, let’s remember how successful Anthopoulos has been when challenged like this. When he took the job in November 2017, nobody thought he could trade Matt Kemp and his bulky contract. A month later, he sent Kemp to the Dodgers in a deal that brought Charlie Culberson and Brandon McCarthy to Atlanta. Both Culberson and McCarthy made contributions in Atlanta in 2018.
If not for that deal that sent Babe Ruth to the Yankees more than a century ago, Anthopoulos might also be responsible for the worst trade in Red Sox history. Everybody knows Chris Sale was viewed as damaged goods before he came to Atlanta and won the NL Cy Young Award in his first season with the Braves. But still, Anthopoulos managed to get him in exchange for Vaughn Grissom and $17.5 million.
So, I’m not willing to say he won’t be able to work his magic again with a potential Profar deal.
Roster battle
It’s seldom prudent to put too much stock in Spring Training numbers. But the Braves could at least bring Profar to camp with the understanding that he needs to win a roster spot. Just like some non-roster invitees, he might need to make a few extra road trips. This would create an opportunity to weigh his commitment and evaluate how his presence could impact the clubhouse.
If there doesn’t seem to be a fit at the end of camp, the Braves could release Profar. The financial cost would be the same as it would be if the decision was made today. But at least other options would have been evaluated before it was determined best to eat the $15 million.