Orioles' free-agent bust could be how Braves respond to Jurickson Profar suspension

Jurickson Profar has left the Atlanta Braves in a tough spot, after a second failed drug test has led to a 162-game suspension2-game suspension. Fortunately for the Braves, the Baltimore Orioles have more corner outfielders than they know what to do with and should be motivated to move one in particular.

The Orioles' current projected everyday outfield does not include Tyler O'Neill. Colton Cowser is locked into center, Taylor Ward was brought in to play every day, and Dylan Beavers is a top prospect who hits on the strong side of the platoon. With Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo expected to share the DH position, depending on who isn't behind the dish, there doesn't appear to be much playing time at DH available to O'Neill.

The Orioles and Braves can scratch each other's backs with a Tyler O'Neill trade

15 million dollars is a lot of money to spend on a 4th outfielder/pinch hitter who isn't good at defense or base running. The Orioles have the option to either shoehorn O'Neill into the lineup over players they like better to justify his contract or deal with the fact that they have a very expensive pinch hitter on the bench.

That's where the Braves come in. The Braves are projected to start Dom Smith at DH. Smith has a very long track record of being a well below-average offensive player. A healthy O'Neill would be a massive upgrade over Smith at the DH position, and once Sean Murphy comes back, he and Drake Baldwin could split time at DH, and O'Neill could still factor into the Braves' outfield if they needed him to.

The Braves are off the hook for the $14 million they were going to owe Profar this season, so O'Neill's $15 million salary could slide right into that slot if the Braves are willing to take on the whole contract as a straight salary dump. If the Braves don't want to take on all that money, or if the Orioles want a better return for O'Neill, then the Orioles could eat some of the contract in exchange for the Braves increasing the prospect compensation in the trade.

The Orioles could use the salary relief to invest in the bullpen, which is already dealing with injuries, or take on money at the trade deadline to bolster the rotation or another position of need. The roster spot that trading O'Neill frees up could go to a red-hot Heston Kjerstad or to keeping on Jeremiah Jackson once Jackson Holliday returns from his hamate injury.

It could be a win-win trade; the Orioles get payroll and roster flexibility, plus whatever Double-A relief pitcher prospect they can pry away from the Braves. The Braves get to avoid having their season turned upside down because their big free agent acquisition got popped for steroids twice in the span of 12 months like an idiot.