The Atlanta Braves have an interesting decision to make when it comes to a roster move to allow Jurickson Profar to rejoin the team.
Profar is nearing the end of his 80-game suspension for violating the league's banned substance list and can't re-enter the mix if room isn't made. The potential boost couldn't come at a better time as the Braves continue to attempt to fight back to .500 and find some level of offensive consistency.
It appears that when Profar returns, Stuart Fairchild is the top candidate to be demoted from Atlanta's active roster. Fairchild has limited offensive value and isn't going to be getting any action as the team's 6th outfielder.
This presents a delay in an obvious decision the team must make when it comes to infielder Luke Williams. The fact that the veteran minor leaguer is still a member of the active roster speaks to an overwhelming lack of depth. Choosing to put a player who cannot provide any offensive value on the roster is frustrating.
Braves Must Cut Ties with Luke Williams After Embarrassing 1st Half to 2025
Whether you want to blame ownership or the team's front office can be heavily debated when it comes to Atlanta's lack of depth. However, there is no denying that having Williams on the roster is a clear liability in a spot where you could have real depth.
Williams was awful with Gwinnett before his promotion and has hit .143 with a .414 OPS since joining the active roster. How this level of performance continues to be accepted remains a mystery, especially when the Braves need all the help they can get.
It wouldn't be difficult to find an upgrade either in the trade market or even in your own minor league system. There are multiple infield options that will offer you better than a sub-.150 batting average. Accepting Williams on the active roster is being willing to embrace mediocrity and not doing everything in the club's power to improve.
This isn't an intentional shot at Williams, who has done everything in his power to help win. Rather, it points out how the Braves have hurt themselves by not having viable replacement options.
Moving Williams off the roster will signal that the Braves are willing to at least attempt to find upgrades and do everything in their power to turn the 2025 season around. With the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies up next on the slate, now is the time to make the move.