Jurickson Profar’s suspension furthered what has been a miserable first week of baseball for the Atlanta Braves and their fans. While it is still far too early to panic, there is no denying how frustrating the start of the year has been in Atlanta.

Profar was the biggest addition of the 2024 offseason and is expected to be the team’s left fielder not only this season but for the next two years. However, Profar’s future is in question after hurting his team only four games into the year.

With Profar missing the postseason, there is now a wide open competition for a meaningful role, not only while Profar is suspended but in October. With this in mind, the Braves are likely to explore what additions could be made, starting with an in-house option that suddenly has an unexpected opportunity.

1. Alex Verdugo

The Braves’ signing of Alex Verdugo was a bit of an oddity in the timing of the move. Atlanta already added Profar and had a trio of options for the fourth outfielder role in Jarred Kelenic, Bryan De La Cruz, and Eli White. Albeit, these are all underwhelming options, none were expected to play innings of note after the first month of the season.

Adding Verdugo several days before Opening Day spoke to a lack of trust in the team’s depth. It’s a move that will be spotlighted after the loss of Profar. Verdugo was on the market so late based on a complete mess of a 2024 with the New York Yankees.

Before last season’s struggles, Verdugo had been a consistent offensive force with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox. A career .272 hitter, the veteran is likely Atlanta’s best chance at finding a surprise starter in-house. He has vast postseason experience with the Red Sox and Dodgers, meaning the stage won’t be too big.

Furthermore, expectations are lowered with Verdugo only needing to be the sixth or seventh best option in the Atlanta lineup.

2. Adam Duvall

One of the few unsigned free agents of note is former Atlanta outfielder Adam Duvall. The veteran offered the league an ultimatum: guarantee $3 million in his contract or the veteran was content to retire. This is an interesting stance to choose when you hit .182 in the 2024 season with a noticeably negative WAR. Duvall being on the market is by choice, the outfielder demanded an unreasonable contract based on his latest season.

With that said, desperation is going to force the Braves to take some level of risk. This could mean giving Duvall yet another look and hoping the outfielder can turn back the clock. Not since Atlanta’s 2021 run to the World Series has Duvall been a truly elite contributor. There have been a handful of great moments since, but no level of consistency.

Signing Duvall is a risk, but it’s one that you can easily reverse, and you can continue to search for answers without having given up anything of note. One more reunion with the former Brave could make sense for both sides.

3. Jarred Kelenic

Kelenic’s at-bats in the 2024 season were maddeningly inconsistent. After a strong start to the season, the outfielder quickly fell out of Atlanta’s starting outfield. Still, the Braves have given Kelenic a role to start the season and seem stubbornly hoping Kelenic will develop into a starting option. There is no reason to believe the results are going to change.

However, Atlanta has made it clear that Kelenic will be given every chance to win a starting role. As the team is down to one starting outfielder in Michael Harris, Kelenic is going to be in the Braves lineup. The opportunity is there, but it is hard to find a concrete reason to believe the outfielder can seize it.

4. Luis Robert Jr.

The White Sox outfielder has been a suspected trade deadline target each of the past two seasons. If there is one team that could be talked into an early season trade, it is Chicago. The White Sox are under no illusions that this will be another long season. The franchise continues to work on a rebuild that still appears far from finished.

Robert Jr. would boost Atlanta’s power and likely thrive hitting around Ozuna, Albies, Riley, and Olson. The downside to this potential trade is what it would take to land the current White Sox star. There is a reason the move hasn’t been made yet, and it is likely because of Chicago’s asking price.

It is hard to see the White Sox offering their best hitter for a reasonable price in the first weeks of the season. What would Atlanta be willing to pay to have a concrete answer to replace Profar? The answer to this question determines whether or not this could be a fit.

5. Taylor Ward

When discussing potential Atlanta trade targets, you always must consider the Athletics and Los Angeles Angels. Both teams have a rich history of losing trades with the Braves. That could continue if the Angels are willing to move on from Ward early in the season.

Ward has shown surprising development as a power hitter and has put up solid numbers over the last year. Putting Ward in the left makes Atlanta’s lineup far deeper and gives the team a third option when Profar is suspended again for the postseason.

The outfielder is a career .253 hitter and a reliable commodity at the plate. The numbers would likely take a jump playing in a lineup with far more protection and talent than Ward has been a part of. It’s worth picking up the phone and finding out if the Angels would make the move.

6. Starling Marte

Marte has fallen out of favor in New York after the headline addition of Juan Soto. What are the chances the Braves would consider trading with a division rival? As much hate as there is between Mets and Braves fans, the front office appears to have a great relationship. The Braves and Mets have made a number of deals over the years, including Kelly Johnson and Jeff Francoeur being sent to New York.

Marte is unquestionably overpaid but in the final year of his contract. Atlanta could likely acquire the outfielder for very little investment. However, the issue will be if the Mets are willing to move the veteran so early in the season to a division rival.

Both teams are expected to be in the postseason race, which could factor into whether or not the Mets are willing to consider the deal. The Braves have nothing to lose and should at least reach out with a clear hole in their lineup that needs to be filled, not only for 80 games but in any potential postseason run.

7. Tommy Pham

Pham has an interesting reputation around the league that varies according to who you ask. At times, the edge and energy Pham brings can be the missing piece for a clubhouse. Whether or not that is the case for the Braves is an answer only the team knows. Regardless, there is no denying how flat this team has been, not only to start the season but on multiple first-round postseason exits.

Profar was expected to bring much-needed energy into Atlanta, and perhaps Pham can provide a similar answer. The outfielder has been consistently bouncing around the league. A trend likely to continue this season, with the Pittsburgh outfielder likely being a trade target yet again.

Atlanta should at least consider the veteran as a possible cheap answer if they don’t believe in the trio of Kelenic, De La Cruz, and Verdugo. Pham is a reliable offensive option that could at least help Atlanta get through the first half of the season as they await the returns of Profar and Ronald Acuna Jr.