While the Atlanta Braves are off to a strong start to the 2026 season, it has done little to lessen the frustrations about outfielder Jurickson Profar. The veteran was supposed to be the team's starting left fielder before a suspension for a second straight year wiped away all of Profar's 2026 eligibility. It is difficult to believe that a player caught ignoring the league's banned substance policy would find a way to make this same mistake less than a year later. However, this is exactly the position Profar is in, leaving many Atlanta fans wondering what the team's options are moving forward.
Profar's entire 2026 salary is off the books, leaving one year remaining on the three-year $42 million pact the Braves signed with the outfielder. The final year of the deal is worth $15 million and cannot be viewed as a sunk cost. This isn't to defend Profar or even to offer that the current Brave wouldn't arguably be an addition by subtraction based on his selfish decisions.
However, the reality is that the Braves remain on the hook for the final year of Profar's deal, assuming the third season of his Atlanta tenure doesn't follow a similar script. There is no opt-out or easy avenue to kick the outfielder to the curb and move on, as so many Atlanta fans would desperately love to do. In truth, the best move on the table for the Braves is to hope that whatever version of Profar is present in 2027 offers a bit of value.
Braves Have Little Option but to Hope Profar's Final Year Offers Value
Paying the outfielder to play elsewhere shouldn't be on the table, even as much as the franchise should feel cheated by the signing. Being on the hook for a contract of this value makes it clear that the franchise must go through the motions next season and hope Profar can get back on track after spending a year out of the league.
If the performance is below average in the 2027 season, you can then pull the ripcord and part ways with what has been a bust of a signing. What Atlanta cannot afford to do is part ways with $15 million and get nothing of note in return. While the Braves are among the league's top spenders, they aren't in the same weight class as the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Mets, who remain largely in a league of their own.
Atlanta is a bit more cautious in allocating their salaries, making Profar's deal an even bigger source of frustration. Punting on the contract now only ensures a lack of value moving into next season. Whether it is hoping Profar starts hot enough to set up a potential trade, or leaving the outfielder rostered in hopes of getting him back into the fold, it is clear that Atlanta's only path remains a frustrating reality: Profar should remain a Brave.