The Braves tried to sign right-hander Jeff Hoffman … but he failed his physical with them, had another one flagged by Baltimore and then signed with Toronto.
The Braves sought prized young starter Garrett Crochet in a trade … but the White Sox ended up dealing him to Boston.
The Braves did not land either, but the two situations symbolize their activity – despite seeming inactive on the surface – this winter. Braves president of baseball operations and general manager Alex Anthopoulos waited and waited during a slow winter for his team.
And on Thursday, Anthopoulos finally struck for the Braves’ first guaranteed major-league signing this winter.
The Braves signed free-agent outfielder Jurickson Profar to a three-year, $42 million deal. Profar will make $12 million in 2025, then $15 million in each of the next two seasons.
“We assess the free-agent market, trade market (at the) beginning of the offseason – based on last year, of course,“ Anthopoulos said on a Thursday might Zoom call. ”We had Jurickson as the second-best free-agent bat, just based off the season last year. That’s how good we thought he played and performed."
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Braves designated right-hander Connor Gillespie for assignment.
Profar, a switch-hitting outfielder who played for San Diego in 2024, will help the Braves fill Ronald Acuña Jr.’s absence, then will be their everyday left fielder once Acuña returns.
Profar, once a top prospect, has not lived up to those expectations over his entire career. But he was an All-Star last year as he hit .280 with an .839 OPS and 24 home runs. He had career highs in batting average, OPS, OBP (.380) home runs and RBIs (85).
Last February, Profar signed a one-year, $1 million deal – yes, $1 million (though it included incentives) – with San Diego. He turned it into this contract with a career year in which he dramatically improved at the plate.
He hit the ball much harder. He struck out less and walked more than he did in 2023. He also barreled up more balls.
Is it sustainable?
The Braves tried to answer this question. Their answer is reflected in the $42 million they’re committing to Profar over the next three seasons.
“He made some significant swing changes from ‘23 to ‘24 with his lower half. Added a leg lift. Opened up his stance a little. His exit velocities are up quite a bit,” Anthopoulos said. “And if you look at his career, he’s always been talented. Number one prospect, and the walk rate’s always been there, the strikeout rate’s always been there. He’s had some decent seasons at times and then he’s had some rough seasons. But you know, the only part of his game that hasn’t come is power. You look at his results last year and then you start to dig a little more.”
Profar, who turns 32 in February, primarily has played the corner outfield spots over the past few years. But earlier in his career, he saw considerable time at second base.
To begin the season, Profar will play left field, with Michael Harris II in center field and a competition for right field before Acuña returns. Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz are the main names for that spot, though Kelenic might have an edge as a good defender with a strong arm.
The Profar signing gives the Braves more depth. Kelenic has tools and talent, but hasn’t yet proven himself to be an everyday player. Profar is a versatile veteran who seems to make things happen when he’s in the lineup.
The Braves now have one of baseball’s top outfields. It will have a former MVP (Acuña), an All-Star (Profar) and one of the best young players in the game (Harris). But had the Braves signed Profar at this time last year, the move wouldn’t have registered as it did Thursday.
“I think the biggest thing is you’re trying to find the sweet spot for years and dollars and everything else. And fit and everything else, and the energy he brings and so on,” Anthopoulos said. “And we spoke to a lot of people about him. We think that he’ll be a great fit for us. We’re just excited as well. The fit in our lineup, on our team.
“We’re gonna have guys that have rough patches, rough stretches, slumps, guys that get hurt. Having that depth in the lineup – I don’t want to speak for (manager Brian Snitker) – but we went into last season thinking guys like Orlando (Arcia) would hit eight, nine. You’re now in that spot where, now with everyone healthy, you’re looking at him in the nine-hole and one through eight is a lot of really established guys that have a chance to be really, really strong."
With the Profar signing, Atlanta’s cash payroll is around $212 million, according to RosterResource. Its luxury-tax figure is around $230 million, which means the Braves still have room to spend before hitting the $241 million luxury-tax threshold.
At the beginning of the offseason, Anthopoulos said the Braves’ payroll would increase. Anthopoulos views that as opening day to opening day. The Braves were around $223 million for the cash payroll to begin last season.
There are larger tax penalties for crossing the luxury-tax threshold for a third consecutive season, as the Braves would do if they passed it this year. But in December, Anthopoulos said that wouldn’t be an issue. He said he bakes the luxury tax into his budget for a given winter.
The Braves still need pitching. They could use a starter, though Ian Anderson and Grant Holmes would be internal options. A reliever might be a larger priority because the club will be without Joe Jiménez for a large chunk of the season (knee surgery) and lost A.J. Minter to the Mets in free agency.
“We did so choose (to pursue pitching) all winter, we just haven’t been able to get it done,” Anthopoulos said. “We’ve discussed both, engaged with both, and the conversations ended with only discussions and engagement, and no deal.”
Anthopoulos said if the Braves sign or acquire a starter, that guy would need to be someone who’d clearly make the rotation over Ian Anderson and Grant Holmes. Those two are out of options, so they must make the team or the Braves will expose them to waivers.
Profar will face his old teammates rather soon. On March 27, the Braves open the season at Petco Park in San Diego against the Padres, whom Profar helped to the postseason last year.
This time, Profar will go into the visiting clubhouse.
On his Zoom call, Anthopoulos mentioned Justin Turner, Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson as three players who had surges late in their careers after making lower-half adjustments in their swings.
The Braves hope Profar makes them look smart.
“By no means am I saying (Profar) is the same player (as those three),” Anthopoulos said. “But this guy had all the ingredients. I think tapping into some power was the one piece that was gonna elevate his bat. Clearly, we made what we feel is a very strong commitment to him. And we believe that what he did last year is who he is going forward.”
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