The Atlanta Braves' 2025 season slide started with the news that star offseason addition Jurickson Profar would be suspended for 80 games due to violating the league's banned substance list. The veteran outfielder would return and end the season on a hot note, slashing .245/.353/.435 with 78 hits, 14 home runs, and 43 RBIs while showing the highs and lows of running it back for the 2026 season.
Fast forward to the upcoming MLB offseason, and it remains to be seen if Profar will be a key part of the Braves' plans moving forward.
Braves are Facing a Difficult Jurickson Profar Offseason Decision
Profar's contract can be escaped if Atlanta simply wants to trade away the deal in a salary dump, but it is difficult to determine whether this is the right decision and to spend the money elsewhere, or to hope for a healthy season. Some may argue that a fresh start is the right decision after the poor choice Profar made to start the season.
The counterpoint here is pointing out the energy that Profar brings to an often vanilla lineup. Watching the outfielder in the clubhouse, it is easy to see the energy and engagement he brings to a roster badly in need of both of these traits. Furthering this is the fact that the best version of Atlanta's offense showed up when Profar was plugged back into the lineup after the suspension, making it understandably enticing to keep the same offensive core together, while focusing attention on improving the bullpen and middle infield.
For the Braves, these are the two sides of the argument the front office must weigh when attempting to decide the future of Profar. Whether to completely start fresh and open up salary space or believe in the initial move and be willing to overlook the selfish decision that helped push Atlanta's 2026 season downhill.
It will be an incredibly interesting offseason with the number of needs facing the roster and the lack of an answer at the manager position. After years of stability from ex-manager Brian Snitker, every part of the club's management is now under scrutiny, leaving room to wonder if Profar could become a piece of the offseason shakeup, or if the Braves remain willing to move past the early mistake from the left fielder.