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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays' Wander Franco: Found guilty of sexual abuse
Wander Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic and received a suspended two-year prison sentence Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.Franco will not have to spend any time behind bars as long as he meets the conditions set by the judge, which primarily require him not to approach minors with sexual intentions. Passan notes that because Franco was found guilty, it would be difficult for him to obtain a work visa in the United States and resume his playing career with the Tampa Bay Rays or any other team in Major League Baseball. So long as Franco remains on the Rays' restricted list, Tampa Bay won't be required to pay out any salaries from the 11-year, $182 million contract he signed in November 2021. MLB's own investigation into Franco remains active, and he could be subject to further discipline under the league's domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays' Wander Franco: Verdict coming Thursday
A verdict in Wander Franco's trial in the Dominican Republic is expected to be announced Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.Franco is facing charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking, as well as illegal possession of a gun. He remains on Major League Baseball's restricted list as MLB performs a concurrent investigation of the 24-year-old.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays' Wander Franco: Charged with gun possession
Wander Franco -- who is currently on trial in the Dominican Republic on charges including sexual abuse of a minor -- was charged Sunday with illegal possession of a gun, The latest charge stems from a Nov. 10 altercation during which police found a gun in Franco's vehicle. A concurrent investigation of Franco is being performed by Major League Baseball under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. The 24-year-old signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays in November 2021 but last played in August 2023 and won't receive a salary or accrue MLB service time while he remains on MLB's restricted list.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays' Wander Franco: Trial postponed
Wander Franco's (personal) trial has been postponed from Dec. 12 to June 2, Juan Recio of ESPN.com reports.A judge in the Dominican Republic ruled that several key witnesses were not located in time to proceed on the originally schedule date. Franco -- who is facing charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking -- is on MLB administrative leave and hasn't seen the field since August of 2023.
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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays' Wander Franco: Facing firearm charge
Wander 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays' Wander Franco: Arrested following altercation
Wander 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays' Wander Franco: Goes on restricted list
The Tampa Bay Rays will place Wander 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays' Wander Franco: Formally charged
Wander 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 Tampa Bay 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays' Wander Franco: Administrative leave extended
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have made a joint agreement to extend Wander 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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by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Rays' Wander Franco: Placed on administrative leave
Wander 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 Tampa Bay 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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