Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar’s latest 162-game suspension, reported on Tuesday, has shaken the MLB world. It’s his second time getting suspended by the major league for violating MLB’s joint drug policy in a year following his 2025 PED suspension.
With Profar now facing suspension, the Braves are left to fill the hole in the outfield. Among the available options in the market, former MLBer C.J. Nitkowski weighed in on Andrew McCutchen potentially signing with the Atlanta Braves.
“Well, you know, again, to DH, at least against lefties early on, and then is there, and if you want to have a platoon partner DH, and you don’t want to do Andrew McCutcheon wrong by any means, but I think you’re basically looking for someone to hold it down. You know, over the next six to eight weeks, to be able to help out and what that looks like, because it was going to get a little crowded.”
However, Nitkowski believes the roster might be a bit crowded when Sean Murphy and Ha-Seong Kim are back from the IL. Again, Drake Baldwin might get a chance to DH, which might put McCutchen’s decision in jeopardy.
“Like with Murphy and Baldwin, the comfort level of having them DH, while the other one is catching, is probably where you’re going to be. And that’s where things are going to get crowded.”
“Mike Yastrzemski is getting a little bit more time against lefties if Andrew McCutchen is comfortable coming in and filling that role, that might be the way to go…It’s thin options right now.”
Nitkowski further added that Andrew McCutchen’s signing would not be expensive, and he might fit right in with the team. Ultimately, the decision lies with the front office and how they decide to go in the season.
The 39-year-old McCutchen spent the last three seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2025, he hit .239 with 13 homers and 57 RBIs in 135 games.
Jurickson Profar faces second MLB career suspension due to PEDs
Jurickson Profar was initially suspended for 80-games during the start of 2025 for taking steroids. It was the same substance that got Manny Ramirez suspended for 50 games in 2009.
On Tuesday night, Major League Baseball revealed that Profar will be facing his second suspension for over 162-games. He tested positive for ‘exogenous testosterone and its metabolites’ and will miss out on the entire 2026 season.
He is the sixth player to get a second suspension for illegal drug usage since MLB tightened its rule in 2014. Apart from his suspension, he’ll also forfeit his entire $15M salary and will be ineligible for postseason games.
Furthermore, he will not be reporting to the Netherlands team for the World Baseball Classic event. The Braves noted that they were “incredibly disappointed” to know that Profar had tested positive again.
Profar signed a 3-year, $42 million deal with the Braves in January 2025, two months before his 80-game suspension. He hit .245 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs in 80 games last season after returning from his ban.
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