Baseball fans stunned that veteran outfielder Jurickson Profar is still a free agent: "This makes no sense at all" "Why isn’t he signed yet?"
Nine-year major league veteran Jurickson Profar is getting ready to play for Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic that begins next week. He doesn't have to worry about missing any time in MLB spring training for the international tournament, because as of the end of February, he is still a free agent.
Profar played the past three seasons with the San Diego Padres. However, shortly after the 2022 season ended, he opted out of the final season of a three-year contract that would have paid him $7.5 million for 2023. The move surprised many as Profar had just wrapped up a standard but unspectacular season with the National League finalists.
News: Jurickson Profar, still a free agent, will play for Team Netherlands at the @WBCBaseball.
@MLBNetwork @MLB
It's been nearly four months since Jurickson Profar hit the free-agent market, and he's seemingly become a forgotten man. An almost random tweet by MLB insider Jon Morosi on Tuesday confirming that the still-free agent Profar would be playing for the Netherlands – that news had long since been known – still caught people by surprise that the versatile player had yet to find a new major league home.
@jonmorosi @WBCBaseball @MLBNetwork @MLB I’ve been stunned he’s still a free agent.
@jonmorosi @WBCBaseball @MLBNetwork @MLB Very bizarre he’s still a FA. His agent didn’t do him right.
@jonmorosi @WBCBaseball @MLBNetwork @MLB Why isn’t he signed yet?
While Profar's statistics don't bowl anyone over -– career numbers of a .238 batting average, 78 home runs and 313 RBIs with the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics and Padres since 2012 – he has long been known as a trustworthy defender and "good clubhouse guy" during his time in the majors.
@jonmorosi @MLBNetwork @WBCBaseball @MLB He’s an awesome person and a great player at multiple positions. Hopes this tournament he balls out and can sign on a team to start the year.
He might as well stay there if he isn’t gonna sign twitter.com/jonmorosi/stat…
I don’t want him back, but I do feel for the guy twitter.com/jonmorosi/stat…
While many fans are sympathetic, though relatively ignorant to Profar's contractual plight, many do question the wisdom of the 30-year-old opting out of a guaranteed paycheck with a 2023 National League contender.
Completely forgot he was still a free agent.
Has to be asking for the moon otherwise this makes no sense at all. twitter.com/jonmorosi/stat…
Man Profar messed up hard not opting in twitter.com/jonmorosi/stat…
@jonmorosi @MLBNetwork @WBCBaseball @MLB Bro played himself opting out 🥲🥲
Profar had been rumored to be in contact with several major league teams this offseason, but so far no one has pulled the trigger. His long unemployed run has confused several fans into thinking he had signed with a number of different squads. Alas, he remains unattached.
@jonmorosi @WBCBaseball @MLBNetwork @MLB I thought he signed with the chi sox?
A good WBC may enhance Jurickson Profar's chances of signing with an MLB team
If Jurickson Profar is able to impress for the Netherlands at March's World Baseball Classic, he could still end up on someone's roster by Opening Day. As the first few days of spring training have shown, injuries tend to upset the best-laid plans of teams.
For example, the Chicago Cubs lost outfielder Seiya Suzuki for an unknown amount of time due to a strained oblique. Profar will likely be the first call for teams like the Cubs or others should an injury take out a starting outfielder.