After charges were filed in the Dominican Republic against shortstop Wander Franco, The Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday moved Franco off of Major League Baseball’s administrative leave list, and placed him on the restricted list. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times was the first to report the move.
More #Rays Franco news:
With charges filed, Franco’s stay on administrative leave ended. Team requested, MLB approved shift to restricted list since he can’t report to play, meaning he now won’t get paid or service time as he had. Not a disciplinary action to the charges.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 10, 2024
As Topkin reports, the move to the restricted list means the Rays no longer have to pay Franco his salary, nor does the 23-year-old accrue any more service time. Franco is scheduled to make $2.4 million this year, the third of an 11-year, $182 million deal signed prior to the 2022 season.
There is currently no timeframe reported as to when Franco’s trial on charges of trafficking, sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor could start in the Dominican Republic.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
