Rays’ Wander Franco placed on administrative leave through June 1: Source

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been placed back on paid administrative leave through June 1, as part of a joint agreement between MLB and the MLBPA, a league source said Thursday. The agreement was first reported by the Tampa Bay Times.

Franco, 23, has not played since Aug. 12 when allegations surfaced about an inappropriate relationship with a minor. According to prosecutors, testimony from the girl and testimony from other members of her family, Franco paid the girl’s mother thousands of dollars in cash and other gifts in exchange for the mother’s consent to engage in a sexual relationship with her daughter.

The procedural move to place Franco on administrative leave allows the Rays to remove the shortstop, who signed a $182 million extension in 2021, from the 40-man roster. He spent the final weeks of last season on administrative leave, which Major League Baseball uses while a player is being investigated under the league’s domestic violence policy. He was reinstated to the 40-man roster after the season.

Franco could still be suspended under the domestic policy, with the outcome depending on the separate investigations conducted by MLB and the Dominican authorities.

Franco has not formally been charged but remains under investigation in the Dominican Republic, his home country. Prosecutors have until July 5 to bring formal charges against Franco, though they’ll also have the option to request an extension of up to two months to conclude their investigation.

Once the prosecution formally presents its accusations, the presiding judge will proceed with a preliminary hearing, which in the Dominican Republic is a trial of the evidence. A judge would evaluate the evidence and determine whether the legal requirements for charges have been met. The judge may accept, reject or change the charges against both Franco and the mother of the minor. This would be the final step before the start of a trial.

Required reading

(Photo: Thomas Skrlj / MLB Photos via Getty Images)