Braves predicted to trade Dylan Lee, Didier Fuentes for Yankees’ $5.1M phenom with elite bat speed originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Atlanta Braves are now facing uncertainty about what comes next for the organization after news that broke earlier this week. Atlanta will likely be without Jurickson Profar for the entire season, as he is facing a year-long suspension for PEDs.

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“Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jurickson Profar is facing a 162-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time in the last year, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. Profar, 33, is the sixth player to receive a 162-game ban for PED use since Major League Baseball increased the penalty for two-time offenders to a full season in 2014. He will forfeit the entirety of his $15 million salary,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote.

Still, it is up to Atlanta to find a replacement, and one option could be trading for Jasson Domínguez of the New York Yankees.

“Profar was supposed to begin the year as Atlanta’s DH and then play left field on most days once Sean Murphy returns from the IL. Dominguez might not be as good a player as Profar has been the last couple of years (likely thanks to the PEDs), but he’s got immense upside and could fill that Profar role to a tee. He makes a lot of sense as a player the Braves would target, and he’d come with several years of cheap club control,” FanSided’s Zachary Rotman wrote.

Domínguez could be a strong trade candidate, as his playing time has started to become uncertain heading into Spring Training.

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“Obviously, I hear all of that, but I try not to focus on that,” Domínguez said. “I try not to focus on that, because there is a Spring Training coming and this is baseball. A lot of things can happen.”

The Atlanta Braves should at least check on Domínguez, who is under team control until 2030. That level of control would give Atlanta plenty of time to develop the young phenom. While the move may not pay off immediately, Domínguez offers significant long-term upside.

In a potential deal, the New York Yankees could receive a reliever to strengthen their bullpen along with a young starter with high potential. Such a trade could benefit both teams by addressing key needs on each roster.

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