Up until Thursday night, the Atlanta Braves’ offseason had been stagnant. Patience was beginning to grow thin across the fanbase and even within the organization. With gaps in the starting rotation to fill and in desperate need of a corner outfielder, the potential Opening Day roster was starting to look concerning.
Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos turned to free agent outfielder Jurickson Profar as the first step in addressing Atlanta’s needs. While Profar, who was an All-Star in 2024, fits perfectly with the Braves lineup, the details of his contract is what should have Atlanta Braves fans excited.
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— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) January 23, 2025
Evaluating Jurickson Profar's deal with the Braves vs. Anthony Santander's with Toronto
With the free agent pool this offseason, now Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander was mentioned as a possible fit for the Atlanta Braves. Before he signed with the Jays, it was reported that Santander who hit 44 homers last season was open to a short term contract which made him that much more intriguing.
Santander ultimately signed a five year deal worth $92.5 million, proving that he was actually well out of the Braves' price range. In classic Alex Anthopoulos fashion, he made a much better decision by acquiring Profar.
Profar, who is a switch hitter like Santander, is coming off of his first career all-star season with the San Diego Padres where he hit .280 with 24 homers and 85 RBIs. While Profar’s power numbers are much less than Santanders, he hits for a much higher average and plays better defense. Additionally, Truist Park tends to play as a much more hitter-friendly facility than Petco Park in San Diego, so we could very well see Profar’s power numbers increase in 2025.
Profar’s deal with Atlanta is for only three seasons and $42 million. This leaves the Braves with plenty of money to aggressively pursue starting pitching that they desperately need, especially if Anthopoulos holds true to his word about not letting luxury taxes play a factor in signings. Patience is a virtue, and Alex Anthopoulos truly has it. This Profar signing could be the start of a flurry of moves Atlanta makes in the coming weeks. Waiting out the free agent market like Anthopoulos has could pay dividends for the Braves.