Braves Seek Veteran Bat After Profar's PED Suspension

Atlanta must replace suspended DH Jurickson Profar, who will forfeit $15M salary.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Atlanta Braves are in an unusual spot after teammate Jurickson Profar was suspended for the entire 2026 season due to a second positive PED test. Profar will forfeit his $15 million salary, leaving the Braves to find a replacement, potentially through free agency. The team is believed to be interested in veteran outfielder Tommy Pham, a recent Gold Glove finalist with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Why it matters

Profar's suspension is a significant blow to the Braves, who were counting on his bat in the designated hitter role. The team will need to be strategic in how it uses the freed-up salary resources to find a suitable replacement, either through free agency or a trade, in order to maintain their competitiveness in the NL East.

The details

Profar, 33, is the sixth player to receive a 162-game ban for PED use since MLB increased the penalty for two-time offenders in 2014. Braves captain Chris Sale acknowledged the tough timing of the news, as the team prepares for the upcoming season. The Braves are believed to be interested in signing veteran outfielder Tommy Pham, who is coming off a strong second half with the Pirates and was a recent Gold Glove finalist.

  • On March 5, 2026, Jurickson Profar was suspended for the entire 2026 season due to a second positive PED test.
  • Profar will forfeit his $15 million salary for the 2026 season.

The players

Jurickson Profar

A 33-year-old designated hitter for the Atlanta Braves who was suspended for the entire 2026 season due to a second positive PED test, forfeiting his $15 million salary.

Chris Sale

The captain of the Atlanta Braves, who acknowledged the tough timing of Profar's suspension as the team prepares for the upcoming season.

Tommy Pham

A veteran outfielder who is a recent Gold Glove finalist with the Pittsburgh Pirates and is believed to be a target for the Braves to potentially replace Profar.

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What they’re saying

“It was tough. Obviously, this time of year, we're all getting prepared for the season, and there's a lot of stuff we've got to do to get prepared, and it's not good news. Not what you want to hear.”

— Chris Sale, Braves Captain (ESPN)

What’s next

The Braves will need to decide how to best use the $15 million in salary freed up by Profar's suspension, whether that's through signing a free agent like Tommy Pham or exploring a trade option to replace Profar's production in the designated hitter role.

The takeaway

Profar's suspension is a significant setback for the Braves, but it also presents an opportunity for the team to be strategic in finding a replacement that can help them maintain their competitiveness in the NL East. The Braves' ability to effectively utilize the freed-up salary resources will be crucial in determining how they weather this challenge.