NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Once the appeal process is complete, Braves players and coaches might have more to say about Jurickson Profar again testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance.
But for now, they are speaking about Profar’s 162-game suspension like they would a season-ending injury suffered by a key player in Spring Training.
“Obviously, there’s emotions,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “I don’t tell grown men how to think or what to feel. That’s a personal thing. We’re all disappointed, but I’m not going to stand up in front of these guys and say this is how you should feel or this is what you should say. When I got in front of them on the first day of this camp, I said we need grown men who will not give into the distractions of a Major League season.”
The Braves know all about distractions. Five key position players missed significant time in 2024 and six starting pitchers missed at least six weeks last year. Now, for the second time in less than a year, Profar has been suspended.
Profar was suspended by Major League Baseball on Tuesday for being in violation of MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, after testing positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites.
As a second-time offender, Profar will be suspended for 162 games without pay and is barred from participating in any postseason or World Baseball Classic games. The Braves will not owe him his $15 million salary this year.
“We can choose to acknowledge it, put it to bed and move on from it,” Braves pitcher Spencer Strider said. “Or we can let it become an excuse. It's going to be talked about. You guys are going to talk about it and understandably. But it does us no good to dwell on it.”
Here are a couple of the questions Profar’s suspension creates:
What will the Braves do with the $15 million they no longer will pay Profar this season?
Had this occurred just a couple weeks ago -- before Marcell Ozuna signed his one-year, $12 million deal with the Pirates -- the Braves may have at least discussed bringing the Big Bear back for another season. But he’s gone and the free-agent market doesn’t have bats of that caliber left.
As for the possibility of adding a starting pitcher, it has become obvious the Braves believe their current internal options are better or at least just as valuable as what they would receive from Lucas Giolito or Zack Littell, the top two remaining free-agent starting pitchers.
But at least an additional $15 million to play with does possibly create some trade opportunities for president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos. It takes two to tango and significant trades are not common during Spring Training. But you never know when things could materialize.
Nearly 30 years ago, many of you didn't expect to wake up to learn Marquis Grissom and David Justice had been traded to Cleveland for Kenny Lofton and Alan Embree.
How will manager Walt Weiss replace Profar in his lineup?
Profar was slated to begin the season as the Braves’ primary designated hitter. He might have played left field when Mike Yastrzemski sits against left-handed starters. But if Drake Baldwin was behind the plate in those games, the Braves would have seemingly been better off with Eli White in left field and the defensively limited Profar as the DH.
So, the key question is how might the Braves fill the DH spot? Before getting into this, remember that shortstop Ha-Seong Kim and veteran catcher Sean Murphy could both be activated from the injured list during the first half of May.
Once Murphy returns, he could serve as the primary catcher and Baldwin might get more of his plate appearances as the DH. Regardless of the role, the Braves want Baldwin’s bat in the lineup for as close to 162 games as possible this year.
Weiss has said he plans to use many of his regulars as the DH this year to get them off their feet more frequently than they have in recent seasons.
Mauricio Dubón will begin the season as the primary shortstop. But once Kim returns, Dubón could be used in left field when Yastrzemski sits against lefties. In fact, the Braves could also do this during the season’s first few weeks. If Dubón is needed in left during this early span, Jorge Mateo could play shortstop.
Or Anthopoulos might end up trading for a player who could help fill some of these unexpected voids.
“This team, the last couple years has been through a lot.” Braves third baseman Austin Riley said. “I think guys are all focused on just pushing forward.”