Jurickson Profar tests positive for banned substance

The report was later confirmed by Jeff Passan of ESPN, as Profar will receive the standard 80-game suspension for violating MLB’s PED policy.

The Braves feverish attempt to add outfielders over the last few weeks now makes a lot more sense.

Before the season started, Alex Verdugo was acquired for what was perceived to be depth purposes, and it continued today with the trade for Stuart Fairchild, who will join the Braves on Tuesday. It was never about Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz. Atlanta was preparing for something much more disastrous, losing the only worthwhile free agent they acquired during the offseason.

This is a massive blow for a team that now has a lot of concerns early in the season. The outfield is going to be a patchwork job until Ronald Acuña Jr. returns, and even then, who knows which version of Acuña the Braves are going to get after undergoing a second torn ACL.

The bullpen is also in rough shape. The Braves opted not spend money on their relief core despite watching A.J. Minter leave in free agency and Joe Jimenez go down for an extended period following offseason knee surgery. It’s nowhere near World Series caliber and has already cost Atlanta early this season.

Overcoming a lackluster bullpen is possible with everything clicking, but it just got a lot more difficult with the recent developments surrounding Jurickson Profar, who will be out of the lineup until early July.