With spring training a little less than a month away, Tampa Bay Rays' shortstop Wander Franco remains on the restricted list.
Franco was put on the list back in August of 2023 and missed the Rays' playoff run because of allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a minor.
Franco was arrested earlier this offseason in the Dominican Republic because of the alleged relationship and more information continues to come out about the nature of their relationship and conversations.
Per ESPN:
... Prosecutors later accused him of having sex with the 14-year-old girl when he was 21 years old and presented charges of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering. He could face up to 20 years in prison and is reckoning with the possibility of his MLB career ending at age 22.
THE GIRL, now 15 years old, met Franco online, according to prosecutors. According to the documents, he "took her from her home" in Puerto Plata, on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, on Dec. 9, 2022, for two days. During that time, they had sex twice, prosecutors said, and started a relationship that lasted four months...
For most of the final two months of their relationship last year, Franco was in spring training with the Rays. After the season began, the relationship strained, and she started seeing someone else. After she told Franco, they talked over WhatsApp, according to the file presented to prosecutors.
Franco wrote: "I would like you to forget everything you have learned to raise you my way."
She responded: "And what is your way? Without love? Without respect?"
Franco replied: "There was more to it but you're just a girl and you don't know how to get along with me, that's why you failed, but I'll give you only one chance, you must be only for me. Don't look at anyone, I know you've been with someone else, but no one will know how to use you the way I want."
As the ESPN article says, Franco's entire MLB career is in doubt at this point and by acquiring Jose Caballero this offseason from the Seattle Mariners, the Rays seem to be planning for a 2024 season without hm.
Tampa Bay invested the biggest contract in franchise history in Franco, giving him an 11-year deal in 2021. If he's unable to play for all or part of the 2024 season, the team's chances of competing in the loaded American League East certainly goes down.
The 22-year-old made his debut in 2021 and owns a lifetime .282 average over three seasons. He made the All-Star team in 2023 and hit .281 for the Rays, who won 99 games. He also had 17 homers, 58 RBI and 30 stolen bases.
His contract was for $182 million but is also now completely up in the air depending on his situation.
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