Will the Braves Successfully Acquire a Key Cardinals Outfielder?
The Atlanta Braves may be looking to St. Louis for assistance as they are in disbelief following the shocking suspension of one of their most valuable offseason recruits. MLB reported earlier this week that outfielder Jurickson Profar had tested positive for performance-enhancing substances and was suspended for 80 games without pay, including the entire postseason. The Braves' outfield depth is severely lacking after the loss of Profar, who was anticipated to be a huge contributor for Atlanta. This might pave the way for a blockbuster deal.
"This season, Lars Nootbaar is off to a fiery start," FanSided Jacob Mountz commented. He is in fifth place in all of baseball with a .475 on-base percentage and tied for 41st with two home runs in his first 33 at-bats. Despite the fact that the 2025 season is still early, the 27-year-old outfielder appears to be having a breakthrough year. Nootbaar couldn't be in a better position, but the Cardinals front office couldn't be in a worse one.
This summer, St. Louis made news when they tried to switch to a soft rebuild. However, the Cardinals did nothing despite general manager John Mozeliak's attempts to reduce salaries. Following internal strife, arbitration hearings were held for Nootbaar and teammate Brendan Donovan. Donovan lost his argument, and Nootbaar will receive $2.95 million this season.
According to rumors stoked by the friction, the Cardinals may be willing to trade Nootbaar, particularly if doing so would allow them to regain long-term assets. Nootbaar is still under team control through 2027, and Spotrac predicts that when he becomes a free agent, he will fetch a $113 million contract. In order to keep him committed for the long run, the Cardinals might look at an extension. This would fit with their goal of staying competitive while making last-minute adjustments. Nootbaar would make a great addition to the Braves and would help them out with the loss of Profar.
The Braves are focused on winning right now. Despite their retooling, the Cardinals are still in the running for the championship. At least for the time being, a Nootbaar-to-Atlanta trade might remain a pipe dream unless the Braves are willing to clear out the farm system. This decision should be made quickly as there’s no time to waste this season. Losing Profar for 80 days is a big loss for the Braves and hopefully, they’ll be able to find a perfect replacement for him.
