Player News

• Rays' Wander Franco: Facing firearm charge

  4H ago • By RotoWire

  Franco (personal) is facing charges of illegal use and possession of a firearm related to his arrest in an altercation in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, Juan Recio of ESPN.com reports. Franco is expected to be granted provisional release Tuesday, although terms of his bail have not yet been defined. The 23-year-old is on MLB administrative leave and is due to stand trial on Dec. 12 in the Dominican Republic involving charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking. A concurrent investigation of Franco is being performed by MLB under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.

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• Rays' Wander Franco: Arrested following altercation

  1D ago • By RotoWire

  Franco (personal) was arrested in the Dominican Republic on Monday following an altercation Sunday during which guns were drawn, Juan Recio of ESPN.com reports. Franco is being held for questioning and it's not yet clear whether he faces charges as a result of the incident. The 23-year-old is on MLB administrative leave and is due to stand trial on Dec. 12 in the Dominican Republic involving charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking. If convicted, Franco faces up to 20 years in prison. MLB is also performing a concurrent investigation of Franco under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.

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• Rays' Wander Franco: Goes on restricted list

  07/10/2024 • By RotoWire

  The Rays will place Franco (personal) on the restricted list Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Franco had previously spent the entirety of the season on administrative leave, but MLB granted the Rays' request to move the 23-year-old to the restricted list after he had charges formally filed against him by prosecutors in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday. According to Marc Topkin and Juan Carlos Chavez of the Tampa Bay Times, Franco faces charges of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor as well as human trafficking, the latter of which carries a 15-to-20-year prison term if convicted. Major League Baseball isn't expected to issue any disciplinary action for Franco until the legal process is completed, but he won't accrue MLB service time or receive a salary while he's on the restricted list.

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• Rays' Wander Franco: Formally charged

  07/10/2024 • By RotoWire

  Franco was formally charged Tuesday in the Dominican Republic with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking, Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN.com.do reports. Prior to the start of the regular season, the Rays placed Franco on administrative leave and later extended his stay until Sunday, but his term will likely be extended indefinitely once again while the legal process plays out. If convicted on the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation charge, Franco could face 1-to-5 years in prison, while the human trafficking charge carries a maximum 20-year sentence.

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• Rays' Wander Franco: Administrative leave extended

  05/31/2024 • By RotoWire

  Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have made a joint agreement to extend Franco's stay on administrative leave through July 14, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. An agreement between the parties was originally reached prior to Opening Day, but the original term was set to end June 1. Authorities have until July 5 to make any charging decisions against Franco, which could provide some additional context for his availability for this season and beyond.

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