3 Potential Free Agent Replacements For Braves After Profar Suspension

The Atlanta Braves suffered a big blow to their lineup for the upcoming season when they learned that Jurickson Profar was somehow careless enough (putting it politely) to be caught testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug—for the second straight spring. He's suspended for the entirety of 2026.

How will they replace the player they had expected to play a regular role in their Starting 9, either in left field or at DH? In just half a season last year (after his 80-game ban was up), Profar put up 14 homers and 43 RBIs.

Perusing the list of available free agents in the outfield, let's have a look at three top options that the Braves could now pursue to fill that void:

Andrew McCutcheon

The former Pittsburgh Pirates icon, now 39, isn't the MVP he once was over a decade ago. But in his second incarnation with Pittsburgh over the last three years, he was at least serviceable. Averaging about 120 games each of those three years, he put up anywhere from 12 to 20 homers a season, while posting OPS's in the .700s, though they've been steadily declining, from .776, to .739 to .700 last season. He's itching to join a contender, so perhaps an agreement with the Braves will rejuvenate the 17-year veteran.

Tommy Pham

The combative outfielder has suited up for 10 teams in his 12-year career, but hasn't had a generally healthy season since 2022. He owns a career OPS+ of 110, so he's an above-average bat. If he can stay on the field, he's as competitive as they come.

The 38-year-old said he played through plantar fasciitis for two years, which hindered his speed and base-stealing ability. He underwent stem cell treatment this offseason to address this problem and says he's ready to return to being a threat on the bases. He played 120 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates last year and hit .245 with a .700 OPS.

He's always been able to get motivated in the postseason, with a .315 career playoff mark, and an .823 OPS in 136 plate appearances.

Max Kepler

The former Minnesota Twins regular is a much younger option, at 30 years old. He's about a league-average hitter, and in a good year, can crack 20 homers or more. In 2025 with the Philadelphia Phillies, he lifted 18 long balls in 417 at-bats, but hit only .216 with a .691 OPS. As recently as 2023, however, Kepler launched 24 homers and posted an .816 OPS with the Twins (120 OPS+), while batting .260.

There are some options out there for the Braves, and any of them, frankly, could replace what Profar was able to do last year.