Jurickson Profar’s 162-Game Suspension Upheld

Jurickson Profar‘s appeal of his 162-game suspension for a second positive PED test was unsuccessful, reports ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Profar will serve the entire 162-game suspension, missing all of the 2026 season, and will be ineligible for postseason play if Atlanta qualifies. He will not be paid his $15MM salary this season, which means the Braves will also be spared the $3MM of luxury taxes they’d have paid on his contract this season.

Whether Atlanta plans to reinvest any of that $18MM in savings remains to be seen. There’s been little indication the Braves are actively seeking external additions to this point, though it’s certainly possible they were waiting for absolute certainty regarding Profar’s status before spending any additional funds. The Braves were already pushing a franchise-record payroll at the time of Profar’s suspension, and there was ample speculation that perhaps the team was at or near its budgetary limit, given the lack of urgency shown despite three notable injuries in their rotation this spring. Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep both had loose bodies removed from their right elbows, and left-hander Joey Wentz was lost for the season due to an ACL tear.

There aren’t many free agents of note for Atlanta to consider, although righty Lucas Giolito stands as one obvious exception. Southpaw Tyler Anderson also remains unsigned. The Braves could also look into any number of veterans who have the right to opt out of minor league contracts around the league over the next week. MLBTR recently profiled 33 such players. No one from that group would command significant money, but it at least gives Atlanta president of baseball operations some additional options to consider if he’s looking to augment his roster following Profar’s departure.

Profar is still under contract with the Braves through 2027, when he’ll be owed $15MM in the final season of what’s become a disastrous three-year, $42MM contract. It’s not yet clear how the Braves will proceed with him, though since he’ll spend the entire 2026 season on the restricted list, there’s no urgency for them to make the decision. With two PED suspensions under his belt, Profar is now one positive test away from becoming just the second player to ever receive a lifetime ban following three positive PED tests. He’d join right-hander Jenrry Mejia in holding that dubious distinction.