Player News
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Franco signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball League on Thursday, Gaijin Baseball reports. Franco has struggled in the majors the last two seasons and was ultimately released by the Nationals late in the 2022 campaign. He'll now head overseas in an attempt to revitalize his career. Given that Franco is 30 years old, he may find any future opportunities in the MLB difficult to come by.
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Franco was released by the Nationals on Friday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports. Franco has operated as Washington's primary third baseman for most of the season, but he hasn't started a game since Aug. 14 and has now been released. The 29-year-old has a .229/.255/.342 slash line with nine home runs and 39 RBI in 103 games this year.
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Franco is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs. Franco is on the bench for the fourth time in seven games and looks to have moved into the No. 2 role at third base behind Ildemaro Vargas. Given the limited defensive flexibility Franco offers in a backup role, he could be in danger of getting designated for assignment if the Nationals need to clear room on the 40-man roster at any point in the final six weeks of the season.
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Franco is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies. Franco has alternated starts at third base with Ildemaro Vargas over the past five games, and that trend will continue Sunday after Franco went 1-for-4 with a strikeout during Saturday's contest. Vargas is 6-for-9 in three games since having his contract selected by Washington on Aug. 1, and Franco's playing time could dwindle further if Vargas continues to play well.
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Franco is not in the lineup Friday's game against the Phillies, Bobby Blanco of MASN Nationals reports. Franco is 3-for-27 with a run and a stolen base since the All-Star break and will head to the bench Friday for the second time in the past three games. Ildemaro Vargas will start at the hot corner and could see more consistent playing time going forward given Franco's struggles.
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