For the second straight season, the Atlanta Braves were relying on Jurickson Profar to anchor left field and be a consistent presence in the lineup. Each of the past two years, Profar has rewarded this expectation by opting to ignore the league's banned substance list and land a deserved suspension. The second offense pushed Profar out of the league for the entire 2026 season and leaves no shortage of responsibility on the shoulders of the once-prized free agent signing.
Atlanta got off to an incredible start in the 2026 season and remains in the driver's seat in the National League East despite a recent stumble. However, this cannot distract from the fact that Profar is yet again failing to contribute due to his own selfish decisions. The first offense could be written off as a mistake or perhaps as a hitter striving to be great, falling to temptation.
Excuses are completely erased when Profar lands a suspension for the second straight season due to ignoring the league's warning a year ago. The outfielder understood he was under a microscope and was a needed piece of the team's lineup, and still opted to make the selfish decision. It is hard to understand any reasonable mentality of how Profar thought he would get away with the decision, or why it was worth the risk.
Braves Should Continue to Blame Jurickson Profar for Awful Decision-Making
What is so frustrating from Atlanta's perspective is the fact that Profar remains under contract for the 2027 season. This year's salary was forfeit due to the suspension, but $15 million remains guaranteed next year, explaining why the Braves haven't simply punted the contract off the roster. There is always the chance of a trade or that Profar might again ignore the league's rules and allow the Braves to escape the contract completely.
The best path would be the outfielder being viewed as a potential trade chip in the offseason and Atlanta having a chance to escape the deal. It is an unlikely development based on the last two seasons, but not completely impossible based on Profar's past resume.
For the Braves, there has to be a healthy level of blame that should continue to be assigned to Profar for why the team's outfield depth remains so thin. Atlanta should have a flexible group that is capable of hitting from both sides of the plate and offering a level of consistency.
Profar's selfish actions cost Atlanta what could've been an even better start to the 2026 season, with it impossible to imagine the veteran is anything other than an upgrade over Mike Yastrzemski or Eli White in the early days of the season.
This makes it clear that the Braves remain frustrated with the situation and should aggressively seek an exit from the deal. One that would wash their hands of the most frustrating signings in recent Atlanta history.
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