Profar's Future: Braves Weigh Suspension History
Alex Anthopoulos says the team has begun internal discussions about whether to keep or trade the outfielder following two missed seasons due to drug suspensions.
By Leah Thompson ·
Jurickson Profar sits on the Atlanta Braves' active roster, but his standing with the franchise is no longer settled. For the first time, the organization has moved from waiting for a formal offer to actively discussing his status internally. The decision will determine whether the outfielder remains in Atlanta or is sent elsewhere before the next training camp.
Alex Anthopoulos, the president of baseball operations, confirmed on Tuesday that he, manager Walt Weiss, and the front office staff have "started talking about it a little bit." He emphasized that no final choice has been made. "Right now, he’s under contract. We haven’t made any ultimate choices and decisions and things like that," Anthopoulos told reporters in Las Vegas.
The conversation centers on Profar's recent track record. The outfielder has missed two consecutive seasons, from 2025 through 2026, due to MLB suspensions for testing positive for banned substances. The initial suspension in 2025 cost him 80 games. He spent the 2026 season in independent ball, playing for the Tustin Turbines in the Golden Baseball League, where he batted .513 with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs.
Profar signed a two-year contract worth $15 million in January 2024. That deal included a 2025 option and a 2026 void year that became a full contract. He has played in 134 games across those two years, hitting .289 with 8 home runs and 30 RBIs. The Braves have not yet made a public decision on his playing time, but the front office is aware of the missed seasons.
Anthopoulos noted that the team will likely have to make a move soon. "I don't know what the ultimate decision is going to be," he said. "But we're going to have to make a decision. We're not going to let it go. We're going to make a decision. It's either he stays, or he goes. We're going to make a decision. We're going to make a decision. We're going to make a decision."
Profar, 28, is currently the team's primary right-handed outfielder. If the Braves trade him, he would be the most expensive player on the roster to be moved. If he stays, he would enter his third season with the club, having already missed the previous two. The front office has not announced a timeline for the final call, but the talks have begun.
