Wander Franco Update: Is the Embattled Shortstop Part of the Tampa Bay Roster for 2024?

Wander Franco has been placed on administrative leave by the Tampa Bay Rays and the MLB amid the sexual assault charges he is facing back home in the Dominican Republic. The Tampa Bay Rays' new season started without their keystone, Wander Franco, who is facing charges in the Dominican Republic for allegedly having a relationship with underage girls as young as 14. Franco, on the third year of his 11-year, $182 million contract he signed in 2021, is also accused of paying the girls' relatives to prevent them from speaking out. The team placed him on administrative leave until June 1, meaning he will still be paid this season. He was placed on the team's restricted list in August 2023. Major League Baseball and the players' association initiated the administrative leave as he continues to be investigated for his alleged crime. The court in Puerto Plata granted him a conditional release and he can leave the country once a month to meet with authorities.

Published : 4 weeks ago by Rolly Gacelo in

The Tampa Bay Rays' new season has started with a 2-8 trashing from the Toronto Blue Jays without their supposed new cornerstone, Wander Franco, who remains in the Dominican Republic facing charges for allegedly having a relationship with underage girls as young as 14.

He is also accused of paying the girls' relatives to prevent them from speaking up.

The team placed Wander Franco on administrative leave until June 1, which means he will still be paid this season.

He was placed on the team's restricted list in August 2023, shortly after the news of his scandal broke.

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The 23-year-old shortstop is on the third year of the 11-year, $182 million contract he signed in 2021.

Major League Baseball and the players' association initiated the administrative leave as he continues to face investigation for his alleged crime. It is not a disciplinary action from the league.

Tampa Bay confirmed that the move is just paperwork to have him officially removed from the roster, pending the result of the investigation.

The administrative leave imposed on him last season ended on November 2, and he was back on the 40-man roster since there is no such thing in the offseason.

The league and Tampa Bay will revisit his case after June 1 and decide what to do next.

"In setting an end date for this stay on administrative leave, the league and union basically established a two-month window for any developments in his case and status," TampaBay.com wrote.

"If there are none, the parties will convene again and could decide to extend Franco's stay on administrative leave, move him to the restricted list or consider other options. The administrative leave stay could end earlier if there is a significant change in Franco's circumstances, such as resolution of the case in the Dominican."

The latest on his sexual assault charges

The probability of Franco playing in the MLB again is low.

Before the issue, he hit .281 with 17 homers, 58 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases in 40 attempts over 112 games.

He is charged with sexual and psychological abuse, which could land him in prison for two to five years if found guilty.

His initial charges were commercial and sexual exploitation and money laundering, which can put him in jail for up to 30 years, 10 years, and 20 years of prison, respectively.

The latest update was from January, when the court in the province of Puerto Plata granted him a conditional release.

He can leave the country but must return "once a month to meet with authorities."

Before the release, prosecutors presented 600 pages of evidence that prove the MLB All-Star's relationship with a 14-year-old as well as his attempt to pay cash to the girl's mother to approve of their relationship.

The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18.

Franco has gone silent since the raid in his home but denied the accusations back in August.

"People don't know what to do with their time," he said.

"They don't know what they're talking about. That's why I prefer to be on my side and not get involved with anybody ... because people gossip and talk smack."

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