Rays' Wander Franco: Placed on administrative leave
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Franco was placed on administrative leave Thursday through an agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association under the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The transaction removes Franco from the Rays' 40-man roster and is effective through June 1. The stay could end sooner than that if there are any developments in Franco's investigation or could be extended if there are none. Because he is on administrative leave and not the restricted list, Franco will be paid his $2 million salary.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Expected to be moved off roster
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Franco is expected to be moved off the 40-man roster by Opening Day and placed on either the restricted list or administrative leave, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Franco was released from a Dominican Republic jail in January after a judge decided Franco would face a lesser charge stemming from his alleged relationship with an underage girl. He is still facing the possibility of prison time. The Rays don't seem to have any intention of bringing him back to the team even if he avoids time behind bars.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Facing lesser charge
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Franco is facing a lesser charge after a judge in the Dominican Republic analyzed evidence that he had an alleged relationship with a 14-year-old girl and paid her mother for her consent, the Associated Press reports.
Franco had been accused of commercial and sexual exploitation and money laundering but now is accused of sexual and psychological abuse. While the new charge is considered a lesser offense, Franco would still face between two and five years in prison if found guilty. The 22-year-old has been conditionally released from jail but is required to return once a month to appear before authorities. Franco is not expected to be allowed back into the United States anytime soon, and his future in Major League Baseball is very much in question.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Likely barred from entering U.S.
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Franco is likely to be barred from entering the United States while facing charges of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering in the Dominican Republic, two immigration attorneys told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Franco was released from custody in the D.R. and is free to leave the country, but he must return once a month to appear before authorities while the legal process plays out. However, the U.S. government has the ability to revoke Franco's visa on the grounds he could be considered a threat to public safety. Even if that doesn't happen, the chances that Franco would attempt to travel to the U.S. are "minimal," attorney Javad Khazaeli told Rosenthal. Franco, 22, is being investigated in the Dominican Republic over allegations he had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and gave her mother 100,000 Dominican pesos per month to maintain a "dating relationship," per court documents obtained by The Athletic. A conviction would be an aggravated felony under U.S. immigration law, resulting in a permanent ban from the United States.
Franco has been charged with commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering in the Dominican Republic, Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN Deportes reports.
Franco was initially arrested Monday for failing to appear at a summons last week, and now these new charges have officially been revealed. According to Recio, Franco will be under house arrest and prohibited from leaving the country. The 22-year-old will be presented before a judge for the first time Friday.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Detained in Dominican Republic
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Franco was arrested by authorities in the Dominican Republic on Monday, Enrique Rojas and Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN.com report.
The arrest is due to the fact that Franco failed to appear at a summons last week. Franco appeared voluntarily Monday with his new lawyers as he was questioned regarding allegedly having had a relationship with a minor. The 22-year-old will be presented before a judge within 48 hours of his arrest and in the meantime will remain in the custody of the Puerto Plata Prosecutor's Office. In addition to being investigated by police in the Dominican Republic, Franco is also being investigated by Major League Baseball.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Meets with authorities in D.R.
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Franco met with authorities in the Dominican Republic on Monday, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
He no-showed after a summons last week, but evidently that was because Franco had fired his former lawyers and they were unable to present the summons to the shortstop. Franco has since hired new representation and they were present at Monday's meeting. The 22-year-old is being investigated by police in the Dominican Republic and Major League Baseball for alleged inappropriate relationships with minors.
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Rays' Wander Franco: No-shows after summons
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Franco failed to respond to a summons filed in the Dominican Republic to address allegations that he had inappropriate relationships with minors, Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN.com reports.
Franco had been summoned by the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Children and Adolescents for questioning Thursday morning. At least two people have filed legal action against the Rays shortstop and, according to Recio, Franco is also under investigation for an alleged third relationship with a minor. Additionally, the Associated Press has reported that he recently fired his legal team. To this point, no criminal charges have been filed against Franco. Even if that remains the case, he is likely facing a suspension from Major League Baseball.
Franco was summoned by police in the Dominican Republic for questioning Thursday, Enrique Rojas and Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN Deportes report.
The summons came after authorities unsuccessfully searched for the 22-year-old at his two homes in the D.R. on Tuesday. Franco is under investigation by police and Major League Baseball for alleged inappropriate relationships with minors. He was on the restricted list from Aug. 12 through the end of the regular season before being reinstated last month in a procedural move. Whether Franco is ultimately charged criminally remains up in the air, but he is likely facing a lengthy suspension from MLB regardless.
Rays' Wander Franco: Back on 40-man amid investigation
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Franco was activated Thursday from administrative leave, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
This is merely a procedural move, as administrative leave is only applicable during the season and the World Series came to an end Wednesday. Franco is still under investigation from both authorities in the Dominican Republic and Major League Baseball following allegations that emerged this summer involving inappropriate relationships with minors. Topkin notes that Franco's "status to return to playing remains unchanged and uncertain."
Rays' Wander Franco: Placed on administrative leave
Rotowire
Franco was placed on administrative leave Tuesday by Major League Baseball under the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
He had been on the restricted list in a mutual agreement between the Rays and the player, but Franco has now been shifted to administrative leave as the league and authorities in the Dominican Republic continue their investigations into his alleged inappropriate relationships with minors. Franco doesn't have a set length for his stay on administrative leave, as MLB can typically extend it on a week-by-week basis until the investigations have been completed. Franco will continue to be paid and accrue service time while on leave.
Franco is expected to remain on the restricted list or shifted to administrative leave as Major League Baseball continues its investigation into the player's alleged inappropriate relationship with a minor, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Franco's placement on the restricted list last week was a transaction made by the Rays, whereas a switch to administrative leave would be done by the league as part of the MLB/MLBPA's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. The player's return doesn't appear imminent in either scenario, as the investigation into Franco both by MLB and by authorities in his native Dominican Republic remains ongoing, with no endpoint in sight.
The Rays placed Franco on the restricted list Monday, and the shortstop will take a leave from the team for the duration of their six-game road trip this week.
In a statement, the Rays noted that the decision to place Franco on the restricted list was mutually agreed upon by the club and the player as Major League Baseball opens up an investigation regarding social media posts made about the 22-year-old over the weekend. Franco's leave could extend beyond this week, pending the results of the investigation.
