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Published By: Sports Desk
Last Updated: March 29, 2024, 12:30 AM IST
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Tampa Bay AllStar shortstop Wander Franco has been placed on administrative leave until June 1 under an agreement between Major League Baseball and the players’ association while the investigation continues into an alleged relationship with a minor.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.: Tampa Bay All-Star shortstop Wander Franco has been placed on administrative leave through June 1 under an agreement between Major League Baseball and the players’ association while the investigation continues into an alleged relationship with a minor.
An administrative leave is not disciplinary under the sport’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, and a player continues to be paid. Franco, who has a salary of $2 million this year, has remained in his native Dominican Republic while authorities there investigate and did not report to spring training.
The Rays opened the season Thursday against Toronto, forcing MLB and the union to make a decision on Franco’s roster status.
“I have no comment. … I’m really focused on the guys here,” manager Kevin Cash said before Thursday’s game at Tropicana Field.
Franco has not played since August 12. He was placed on the restricted list for a week on August 14 while MLB launched an investigation following social media posts suggesting Franco was in a relationship with a minor. The Associated Press has not been able to verify the reported posts.
Franco was placed on administrative leave on August 22 and remained there through the end of the season. There are no holidays during the short term.
MLB is likely to wait until the Dominican investigation is complete before deciding whether there will be any discipline.
Originally charged with commercial and sexual exploitation and money laundering – charges that carry up to 30 years, 10 years and 20 years in prison, respectively – Franco is charged instead with abuse sexual and psychological, according to a judge’s decision obtained by the AP in January. .
Franco had not been formally charged, but if found guilty on the new charge, he could face two to five years in prison.
Franco, who turned 23 on March 1, was in the midst of his third major league season when his career was suspended and was hitting .281 with 17 homers, 58 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 40 attempts over 112 games.
Franco agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021.
He earned $706,761 last year in addition to his salary as part of MLB’s pre-arbitration bonus pool, a pool agreed upon by the league and the players’ association as part of their 2022 labor contract. The bonus pool was created to reward young players, the most earn at or slightly above the major league minimum wage based on how long they have been in the major leagues.
The Rays acquired infielder Jose Caballero from Seattle in a trade this offseason and are giving him a chance to be on the regular shortstop. The 27-year-old played 104 games for the Mariners in 2023, hitting .221 with four homers and 26 RBI. He was in Tampa Bay’s opening day lineup, batting eighth.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Associated Press)
