Yankees Consider Moving Ryan McMahon to Shortstop Amid Anthony Volpe's Absence The New York Yankees are preparing to adjust their infield strategy ahead of the 2024 season, with a focus on giving Ryan McMahon a chance to play shortstop as Anthony Volpe remains sidelined. While McMahon has primarily been used as a third baseman, the team is open to expanding his role, signaling a shift in their approach to roster flexibility. This decision comes as Volpe, the team’s young shortstop, is expected to miss time due to injury, creating an opportunity for McMahon to step into the position. The Yankees’ willingness to adapt their lineup highlights the importance of having players who can contribute in multiple roles. McMahon’s ability to handle shortstop would provide the team with greater versatility, allowing them to manage their bench more effectively. This move could also ease pressure on Volpe, who has faced challenges in securing a consistent role at the hot corner. Manager Aaron Boone has expressed confidence in McMahon’s potential to play shortstop, stating that he would feel comfortable having the player take on the position in a regular season game. This endorsement suggests the Yankees are seriously considering the idea, rather than treating it as a temporary experiment. Boone’s comments indicate a strategic shift in how the team constructs its infield depth, prioritizing adaptability over rigid positional assignments. If the Yankees proceed with this plan, McMahon’s role will become a critical factor in shaping the team’s infield options. His ability to play shortstop would not only provide immediate flexibility but also enhance the team’s long-term depth.#new_york_yankees #major_league_baseball #anthony_volpe #ryan_mcmahon #aaron_boone
The Atlanta Braves have been officially notified that Jurickson Profar will miss the entire 2026 season due to his suspension by Major League Baseball. The 33-year-old player from Curacao was suspended on March 3 after testing positive for exogenous testosterone, marking his second positive result for a performance-enhancing drug within a little over a year. This follows a previous suspension in 2025, where he was banned for 80 games after testing positive for human chorionic gonadotropin. Profar's latest suspension was upheld after he appealed the decision, as confirmed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The ruling means he will be ineligible to participate in the 2026 postseason and will forfeit his $15 million salary for the 2026 season. In 2025, he lost over $5.1 million in earnings due to missing nearly half the season as a result of his prior suspension. Profar, who signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Braves in January 2025, had only played 80 games for the team as of the latest update. The deal came after he had an All-Star season with the San Diego Padres in 2024. His suspension now effectively ends his tenure with the Braves for the 2026 campaign, leaving the team to navigate the loss of a key player amid ongoing disciplinary actions against him.#curacao #atlanta_braves #jurickson_profar #san_diego_padres #major_league_baseball
Jurickson Profar faces a 162-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs after his appeal was denied, marking the end of his 2026 season with the Atlanta Braves. The decision comes as Major League Baseball confirmed Profar tested positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites, resulting in the full-season ban for a second violation. The suspension makes him the sixth player to receive such a penalty since MLB implemented the policy in 2014, which mandates a 162-game suspension for repeat offenders. Profar, 33, will forfeit his $15 million salary for 2026 and will be ineligible for postseason play. The suspension follows a prior 80-game ban in March 2025 after he tested positive for chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone linked to testosterone production. At the time, Profar issued a statement acknowledging his responsibility and accepting MLB’s decision, though he denied intentional wrongdoing. His 2025 suspension came early in the season, and after returning in July, he posted a .245/.353/.434 batting line with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs while playing left field. The Braves signed Profar to a three-year, $42 million contract in January 2025 after he had a standout season with the San Diego Padres. As an All-Star in 2024, Profar was expected to play a key role in Atlanta’s lineup, potentially as the No. 2 hitter behind Ronald Acuña Jr. However, his absence for the entire 2026 season will reshape the team’s plans. Braves first-year manager Walt Weiss noted the DH position will be “fairly fluid” without Profar, citing the addition of left fielder Mike Yastrzemski, who signed a $23 million, two-year deal in the offseason. Yastrzemski, along with Acuña and Michael Harris, is expected to form the starting outfield.#atlanta_braves #jurickson_profar #major_league_baseball #walt_weiss #mike_yastrzemski
Phillies' Johan Rojas suspended 80 games for failed drug test The Philadelphia Phillies' Johan Rojas has been suspended for 80 games after failing a drug test. The suspension was announced on March 16, 2026, at 06:24 PM ET. Rojas, a reliever for the Phillies, tested positive for a prohibited substance, prompting the league to impose the penalty. The decision follows standard procedures for handling such violations, which typically involve a review of the testing process and confirmation of the results. The suspension will begin with the 2026 season, impacting Rojas' availability for the majority of the campaign. The Phillies have not yet commented on the specifics of the case or the potential implications for the team's roster. This marks the latest in a series of disciplinary actions taken by Major League Baseball to address performance-enhancing drug use.#2026_season #phillies #johan_rojas #major_league_baseball #drug_test
