From the moment Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar was suspended for violating the league's banned substance list, the franchise had an interesting decision to make. The outfielder is not exactly a popular figure in Atlanta due to his selfish decision. It unquestionably doesn't help matters that Profar was the team's lone splashy offseason addition. Still, there is no denying that Profar's return will help the team win games.
Eli White and Alex Verdugo have both been surprise producers, however, neither has the value of the veteran at his best. This is where things grow a bit sticky with the veteran able to return on June 29th after serving his 80-game suspension. If that were simply the end of it and Atlanta doesn't want to attempt a trade of Profar, you plug the veteran back into the starting lineup and move on. However, things aren't quite this simple with the postseason suspension looming.
Profar's Terrible Decision Costs the Veteran Any Chance of Playing in Braves Postseason
With the way things have been going recently for the Braves, the postseason seems frustratingly unlikely. Still, there is a lot of time left in the season, and Atlanta has the talent to at least claw its way into a wildcard spot. This is where things grow murky for how the team is going to handle Profar's eventual return to the franchise. It isn't a question of whether or not the outfielder can help the team win now, but what the ultimate goal is and how the veteran plays into this.
As frustrating as things might be right now, this is still a team in the hunt for a World Series. The Braves aren't satisfied with simply making the postseason and suffering another first-round exit. Atlanta's goal is to win it all, and there is zero chance that will include Profar in any way.
This is where things grow complicated, with the suspension ruling Profar out of any postseason play. Meaning if it appears the Braves are going to get into the postseason, the team will be faced with a difficult decision. Having Verdugo and White sitting on the bench, trotting out a consistent lineup of Profar, Michael Harris, and Ronald Acuña isn't building the needed postseason confidence.
It is yet another way that Profar's self-serving decision has hurt the franchise. Yes, the veteran is likely going to help you win more games; however, for the team's ultimate goal, they are going to need another contributor. Whether this is Verdugo, White, or a trade deadline addition, the Braves are going to have to begin to weigh how often to put Profar into the lineup and how soon to pull the outfielder ahead of a potential postseason run. While we are months away from this decision, it is an important factor to consider when the Braves begin to make decisions about how to handle the veteran's return.