The Atlanta Braves were dealt tough news on Tuesday when Jeff Passan announced that Jurickson Profar will miss the entire 2026 season after he got busted for using performance-enhancing drugs. Now that the Braves need to find another bat to replace Profar, could Atlanta head to the trade market to land an impact bat?
A recent trade idea by FanSided.com floated the idea of trading for Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton. Mark Powell, the FanSided MLB writer, says this Braves “Jurickson Profar headache” could lead to a trade shortly.
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Should the Braves Trade for Byron Buxton?
GettyByron Buxton may now be open to waiving his no-trade clause.
Here is the hypothetical trade package that Powell claims could get a deal done for Byron Buxton:
“Braves receive: Byron Buxton
Minnesota Twins receive: RHP Didier Fuentes, OF Diego Tornes, and LHP Hayden Harris”
Powell notes that the Braves “have no choice” but to make their best effort to trade for Byron Buxton. Whether it’s before Opening Day or at some point during the 2026 season, Buxton, if the Twins are uncompetitive this season, may allow the Twins to trade him to his former homegrown state.
Buxton carries his own potential issues, like injuries, but he’s played in 100+ games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in his career. He signed a seven-year, $100 millon contract that runs through the 2028 season. Buxton hit 35 home runs in 2025 in 126 games. He’s a two-time All-Star who is an exceptional defender.
If the Twins sell at any point, Braves’ GM Alex Anthopoulos needs to jump on the ball and make a trade for either Buxton or Joe Ryan.
However, the one bright side of the Profar news is the fact that he will forfeit his $15 million contract for the 2026 season, which gives the Braves some wiggle room in the financial department.
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Why Byron Buxton is a Good Fit in Atlanta?
Jurickson Profar was expected to be the Braves’ two-hole hitter in the lineup, but since that’s no longer the case, they will have to replace that production.
Byron Buxton could slot in perfectly as either the second or fifth hitter in the Braves’ order.
The Twins might look to maximize Buxton’s value in a trade, so the Braves could offer players like Nacho Alvarez or Sean Murphy as centerpieces of a trade. Atlanta also has a lot of young arms in their farm system that might be worth giving up in a potential deal.
Buxton is from Georgia, but his hometown is nowhere near Atlanta, so the narrative that he’d be returning to his “hometown” is false; it would be a home “state” reunion.
Over 11 seasons, all with the Twins, Buxton has 168 career home runs, and carries a lifetime .248 average at 32-years-old.
Braves Predicted to Trade for 35-Home Run Outfielder After Jurickson Profar News