It has been a Spring Training that the Atlanta Braves would like to forget. After losing Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep for a significant period, their roster took another hit on Tuesday. The MLB announced that Jurickson Profar would be suspended for 162 games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Profar will also be barred from participating in the World Baseball Classic and the playoffs if the Braves make it.
This is the second time in as many seasons that Profar has been suspended for PEDs. He was suspended for 80 games at the beginning of the 2025 season. If Profar violates the MLB policy again, he faces a lifetime ban from baseball. Now, the MLBPA has announced that it plans to appeal the suspensions and has filed the grievance. However, it’s unlikely this will change the outcome, and the Braves will need to develop a plan to replace him.
Where do the Braves go from here?
The Braves will not need to replace Profar’s spot in the outfield. They already have Ronald Acuna Jr. and Michael Harris set to be in right and center field. They also signed Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year, $23 million deal. Yastrzemski is coming off a decent season in which he slashed .233/.333/.403 with 17 home runs, 46 RBIs, and a 109 OPS+. He also has a great arm, ranking in the 97th percentile of Arm Value and the 73rd percentile in Arm Strength, according to Baseball Savant.
But the Braves will need to do something about the DH spot, as this was the position Profar was set to play. The most likely solution would be to put Ha-Seong Kim at DH. However, Kim has suffered a torn tendon in his finger and will be out until at least May. That is the best-case scenario, and his IL stint may be longer. That leaves veterans like Dom Smith, Jorge Mateo, Eli White, and Brett Wisley as the most likely internal options, but they do not inspire much confidence.
In terms of external options, the Braves could look to sign a veteran like Tommy Pham. He is coming off a solid 2025 season in which he slashed .245/.330/.370 with 17 home runs, 52 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 95. His bat shows no signs of a drop-off, as his bat speed has remained the same and his Average Exit Velocity has been high. Sure, there are some concerns about his attitude and what someone like that can do to a locker room. But as a short-term option, he’s perfect. He can hold down that spot until Kim is ready to come off the IL.
Regardless of who the Braves bring in, the loss of Profar is going ot be hard to replace. He may not be one of the core pieces in the lineup, but he would have been a great complementary bat in the lineup. It’s going to be something the Braves have to replace if they want to have a bounce-back season.
