The Atlanta Braves got more tough news on Tuesday, but it could open the door to a bold trade the club should seriously consider.
The past few weeks have been tough for the Braves. They entered 2026 spring training with legitimate expectations of being a problem in the NL East this season. However, they were immediately dealt a serious blow when it was revealed that Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach both required surgery on their pitching elbows, which could force them out for much, if not all, of this season.
Still, the bad news doesn't end there. On Tuesday, ESPN first reported that outfielder Jurickson Profar would be handed a 162-game ban after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. It is his second suspension after missing 80 games due to a positive test last year. However, there is a bright side to this news.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Braves will save $18 million as Profar serves his unpaid suspension. The 33-year-old was scheduled to earn $15 million, but they would save more because Atlanta was "above the luxury-tax threshold and paying 20 percent for every dollar they were over."
Following this news, ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney suggested that the team could use the new money and try to target options to replace Schwellenbach and Waldrep. That would definitely make sense. However, they need to add an outfielder and a meaningful bat to the lineup.
Atlanta Braves should target Jaren Duran trade after Jurickson Profar's suspension
That's why it makes sense to trade for one-time All-Star Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox. The outfielder was linked to trade rumors throughout the offseason but remains in Beantown. Although the Sox may be willing to move him, the reason they won't do so is because they want something meaningful in return because he is a good player and under team control until 2028.
The Braves are in need of an outfielder, and Duran would be a potential core member of their revamped lineup as well as a very affordable option for the next few seasons. They may have to part with one or two notable prospects in the deal. However, the price will be worth it to land a young impactful player who can be a meaningful part of a team that has a real chance to become the dark horse in the NL this year.
Plus, they'll actually save money while getting better in the outfield or at designated hitter.
