**Veteran Reliever Jesse Chavez Reunites With Braves Amid Turmoil, as Jurickson Profar Hit With 80-Game PED Ban**
The Atlanta Braves turned to a familiar face to stabilize their clubhouse during a chaotic week, signing 41-year-old reliever **Jesse Chavez** to a minor league deal—his **fifth stint with the team since 2021** and sixth overall in a career spanning nine organizations. The move came hours after outfielder **Jurickson Profar**, the Braves’ marquee offseason signing, was suspended 80 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
### **Chavez: The Braves’ “Good Luck Charm” Returns**
Chavez, a journeyman right-hander with a 4.64 career ERA, has become a cult hero in Atlanta. Despite modest stats, he’s revered for his clubhouse leadership and postseason experience (including the 2021 World Series run).
*”We need as much positivity as we can get right now, and Jesse definitely brings that,”* manager Brian Snitker said. *”He’s family. When he walks in, it’s like your favorite uncle showing up to fix everything.”*
**Chavez’s Braves Tenures:**
– 2010–2012 (Original stint)
– 2021 (Midseason trade, World Series win)
– 2022–2023 (Two separate returns)
– 2024 (Released in August)
– **2025** (Latest comeback)
### **Profar’s Suspension Rocks Atlanta**
The Braves’ $42 million gamble on Profar imploded spectacularly when MLB announced his 80-game suspension for a banned substance. Key details:
**Timeline**: Profar, 32, will forfeit nearly **$5.3 million** of his $12 million 2025 salary and is ineligible for the 2025 playoffs if Atlanta qualifies.
**Profar’s Response**: *”I’m devastated. This is the worst day of my career,”* he said, claiming he passed **eight PED tests in 2024**.
⚾ **On-Field Impact**: Profar’s absence leaves Atlanta scrambling in the outfield, with **Ronald Acuña Jr.** (ACL rehab) still weeks from returning.
### **Braves’ Season in Freefall**
The dual news caps a disastrous start for Atlanta:
**0-5 Record**: Swept by San Diego, outscored 27–7, then shut out by the Dodgers on Monday.
**Offensive Collapse**: 23 consecutive scoreless innings before a late solo HR in Monday’s 6–1 loss.
**Front Office Pressure**: GM Alex Anthopoulos faces scrutiny for betting on Profar over higher-profile OF targets like Cody Bellinger.
### **What’s Next?**
– **Chavez’s Role**: Likely to pitch in low-leverage situations initially, but his presence aims to steady a rattled bullpen (5.89 ERA).
– **Profar’s Future**: An appeal is unlikely to succeed, per ESPN sources. Braves may void his contract if violations are proven intentional.
– **Acuña’s Timeline**: Still targeting a late-May return, but the Braves’ playoff hopes may already be dashed.
*For Atlanta, the Chavez reunion is a nostalgic Band-Aid on a gaping wound. With Profar’s suspension and Acuña’s absence, their 2025 season risks becoming a cautionary tale of misplaced trust and missed opportunities.*
Leave a Reply