While the Atlanta Braves have frustrated fans this offseason with their lack of major free agent additions, options remain available. Atlanta has a great core but there are some holes to fill in the rotation, bullpen, and outfield.
The Braves were reported to be interested in adding a lefty bat to their lineup. However, a lot of those options have dwindled. There are a couple of switch hitters left that could give the team exactly what they are looking for so why hasn't it happened yet?
Free agency is a tough process as players want to find the best deal available and the list of contenders has only grown in recent years. Competition for these free agents is much heavier than it used to be. Dollar amounts for these players have skyrocketed as well.
Scott Boras could ruin the Braves' chances of signing free agent outfielder Jurickson Profar
Jurickson Profar is one of the aforementioned switch-hitting outfielders who would be a perfect fit for the Braves. He provides a solid bat for the lineup as he excelled in almost every offensive category last season with a .280/.380/.459 line.
The Curaçao native was a first-time All-Star in 2024 thanks to 158 hits, including 29 doubles, 24 homers, 85 RBI, and a 139 wRC+ (the highest of his career). His defensive range isn't the greatest but he makes up for it with an arm strength rating of 87.2 which is above average for MLB outfielders.
Highest single-full season high leverage wRC+ since the stat began being tracked on FanGraphs(2002)?
— MLB Nerds (@MLBNerds) December 18, 2024
2024 Jurickson Profar, who had a 327 wRC+ in high leverage situations.
A historic season from Profar, that isn’t talked about remotely enough.pic.twitter.com/VjWYEZaMAL
Unfortunately, one major obstacle could get in the way of Atlanta bringing him aboard this offseason and that would be his agent, Scott Boras. Not only that but Fansided's Robert Murray reported the Mets may have interest in his services.
The Braves haven't been keen on signing any free agents represented by Boras or his firm historically. Greg Maddux is one of the few exceptions to this. Atlanta has been fine with drafting or trading for his clients, but there's something about free agency that just doesn't seem to work.
Boras is known for trying to get top dollar for his clients and this causes contract negotiations to slow. That has been true for a few of the clients he represents. Juan Soto was his main priority and he got him a massive deal with the Mets. Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell also signed big contracts. However, a few players still sit on the market, including Profar, Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, and Ha-Seong Kim.
These are very talented players so there's no doubt they'll eventually sign somewhere. Out of the four players listed, Profar seems like the best fit. Kim would be fine but with the other needs Atlanta has, they'll be willing to let Orlando Arcia play shortstop next season with his low cost of $2 million.
Profar solves a problem for the Braves in the corner outfield and provides a solid option until Ronald Acuña Jr. can return. Should the team add the former Padres outfielder, it would give them an Opening Day outfield including Profar, Michael Harris II, and Jarred Kelenic. Without Profar, Braves insider Mark Bowman's prediction for the outfield on Opening Day would include Harris, Kelenic, and one of Bryan De La Cruz, Eli White, or Garret Cooper.
That's not a very fun group to have to run out there. However, it's something Atlanta may entertain as a stopgap solution. Right now, fans just hope the organization does something noteworthy soon as it has been an unusually quiet offseason. Any free agents the Braves have had interest in, have signed elsewhere. Profar seems like too perfect of a fit but his addition would depend on Boras' willingness to work with Atlanta.