The Braves have a glaring offseason task staring them in the face: left field. Atlanta expected Jurickson Profar to hold that spot down for the past two seasons, but that plan has been blown up by his repeated PED issues.
Profar’s situation leaves the Braves with a hole to fill, and not a small one. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that “Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jurickson Profar is facing a 162-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time in the last year, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
Profar, 33, is the sixth player to receive a 162-game ban for PED use since Major League Baseball increased the penalty for two-time offenders to a full season in 2014. He will forfeit the entirety of his $15 million salary," ESPN's Jeff Passan wrote.
With that uncertainty hanging over left field, Atlanta could turn to a proven name in free agency, and one suggestion already on the table is Seiya Suzuki. Sports Talk ATL’s Chase Irle sees Suzuki as the kind of addition that could change the look of the lineup.
“Seiya Suzuki would be another home run signing. He’s done nothing but rake since signing with the Chicago Cubs, boasting an .823 OPS over his five-year career. If the Braves were able to land either one, their lineup would look like the best in baseball,” Irle wrote.
Atlanta may not have a clean path to getting him, though. The Toronto Blue Jays are also expected to chase Suzuki once free agency opens.
MLB Trade Rumors’ Darragh McDonald noted that “The Blue Jays didn't make the playoffs this year, so they are already in offseason mode. Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports that the Jays are expected to pursue outfielder Seiya Suzuki when he hits free agency about a month from now," MLB Trade Rumors' Darragh McDonald wrote.
For the Braves, the need is clear. Left field did not deliver steady production this season, and Profar’s absence was part of that problem.
If Atlanta wants to make a serious push as a World Series contender, it may have to make a major investment to stabilize the position. Suzuki would fit that bill, even if left field isn’t his ideal landing spot.
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