At this point, most Atlanta Braves fans agree that Jurickson Profar should not play a single inning more in a Braves uniform. Profar's first boneheaded PED suspension last year could possibly be chalked up to not paying enough attention to the treatments and medicines he was given, even if that was always a stretch. Now that he has failed a second drug test and is, in all likelihood, going to be suspended for the entire 2026 season, it is clear that he simply cannot be trusted to play within the bounds of the rules, and the Braves should move on.
How exactly the Braves handle Profar going forward is a topic for another day. What we have now is the fallout for Atlanta and their roster to contend with. We know that their plans for left field and designated hitter just got upended and will require some maneuvering to work through, and who knows what the Opening Day lineup could look like.
However, not all the news is bad. Because Profar is being suspended, that means that the Braves are about to save roughly $18 million since suspensions are unpaid and once you account for luxury tax overages. Not only could that help Atlanta's luxury tax situation significantly, but it could also allow them to go out and sign Lucas Giolito to help solve their rotation issues.
After Jurickson Profar's suspension, the Braves should try to salvage 2026 and use his money to sign Lucas Giolito
Now, if the Braves are convinced that they have the rotation arms in camp that they need already, so be it. That would be a bold stance to take, but one could at least understand the thought process. Atlanta could then pivot to some sort of cheap outfield/DH option like Andrew McCutchen and either use the savings at the trade deadline or simply stay under the luxury tax heading into what are likely to be tough CBA talks.
However, all signs point to the fact that the Braves know that their rotation depth is a problem. Losing both Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep for extended periods of time after pursuing rotation help all offseason tells us all we need to know.
While it would be fun if the Braves swung a blockbuster trade for Joe Ryan on the eve of the 2026 season, that doesn't feel realistic. However, Giolito is still available in free agency as an inning-eating option that shouldn't break the bank, given his limited market. Atlanta was lukewarm towards Giolito previously, according to reports, but that was before Profar's money was burning a hole in their pocket.
It is hard to dress up a turd, and Profar's suspension is, on the whole, terrible news for a Braves team that needed some momentum coming out of camp. However, that doesn't mean that the doofus' suspension couldn't present a unique opportunity as well.