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MLB Insider Makes Wild Jurickson Profar Accusation After Suspension

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Apr 8, 2025 8:15 AM ET

Very rarely, especially in the modern social media climate, do prominent sports insiders use terms like “scammed” to describe a contract gone wrong.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale is willing to make an exception for Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar.

That’s not an exaggeration, either. Nightengale wrote the Braves “now have to wonder if they were scammed” following Profar’s recent 80-game suspension for a positive drug test.

Profar, who signed a three-year, $42 million contract over the offseason, tested positive for chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a drug that helps produce testosterone. The 2024 NL All-Star will not be eligible to return until late June at the earliest, and he’s ineligible for the postseason.

“The question now is how will he look when he returns,” Nightengale asked in a Sunday notebook.

“He hit .280 with a career-high 24 homers and an .839 OPS last season with the Padres,” Nightengale continued, “but was it simply a byproduct of PEDs?”

Former New York Yankees catcher Erik Kratz raised a similar question last week, essentially accusing San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. and his father, Fernando Sr., of supplying Profar with PEDs. Tatis Jr. served an 80-game suspension following a positive test for Clostebol, a medicine he said came from treating ringworm, in August 2022.

The elder Tatis played 11 major league seasons and never failed a drug test.

Nightengale’s take is nonetheless refreshingly honest. It’s not often that one of the most impactful media voices in a given sport offers such blunt commentary after the league punishes a player for violating league policies.

Unfortunately for the Braves, they’re likely stuck paying Profar through the contract’s conclusion. Teams rarely attempt voiding deals, especially when drug suspensions are involved.

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

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