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Ex-Teammate Proposes Dangerous Punishment for Braves’ Jurickson Profar

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Apr 4, 2025 9:26 AM ET

Some would argue that an 80-game suspension, postseason ineligibility, and an impacted reputation are a fair punishment for Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar following a positive drug test.

Kansas City Royals great Eric Hosmer isn’t in that camp.

Hosmer ripped Profar, his former San Diego Padres teammate, following the latter’s recent ban. Profar tested positive for chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a drug that helps produce testosterone, and is out until late June at the earliest.

Speaking with former Royals teammates Mike Moustakas and Peter Moylan on the “Diggin’ Weekly” show, Hosmer proposed Major League Baseball begin voiding guaranteed contracts when players test positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

“I don’t care if you sign for guaranteed money,” Hosmer said. “Whatever the rest of the contract is from this point on, you have to take it away.”

It’s a surprising and even borderline controversial take from Hosmer. The Major League Baseball Players Union would almost certainly object to, and fight, such a proposed rule change.

Teams have attempted voiding contracts before, though it’s extremely uncommon. The Baltimore Orioles cut starting pitcher Sidney Ponson in September 2005, arguing he violated the morals clause in his contract. Ponson had a year and $10 million remaining on a three-year deal.

The union objected when Baltimore tried voiding Ponson’s contract to avoid paying him the $10 million. Ponson and the Orioles reached a settlement in December 2008.

Hosmer suggested that players who sign massive contracts have no problem risking bans for PED use. That comment may have been a shot at another former Padres teammate, second baseman Robinson Canó, who served two separate PED suspensions during a 10-year, $240 million contract.

Profar turned a breakout 2024 campaign into a three-year, $42 million contract.

“But if you tell me that I have $110 million on the line for these next three years, and I can possibly lose that, I’m not even thinking about it,” Hosmer said.

“So for me, I think that’s the only way to clean up the game,” he added.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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