Rays' Wander Franco placed on administrative leave, sources say - ESPN

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was placed on paid administrative leave through June 1 while a potential criminal case in the Dominican Republic remains unresolved, sources told ESPN.

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association reached the agreement on Franco as prosecutors continue to investigate allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic, sources said.

The agreement, sources said, allows Franco's status with MLB to change if there are further developments in the case, in which prosecutors allege that he broke sexual exploitation and money-laundering laws. Franco has yet to be formally charged.

Sources familiar with the judicial process against Franco told ESPN that there have been no significant changes and that they continue to carry out the corresponding investigations, with no set date on which they plan to file a formal accusation.

In January, during a coercive measures hearing, prosecutors were given six months to present their accusation against Franco.

Franco, who is 23 and made his first All-Star team last year, spent the final six weeks of the 2023 season on administrative leave after he was accused of having sex with the teenage girl when he was 21. Players can be placed on administrative leave when under investigation by MLB for violating the league's domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.

Franco will be paid his $2 million salary despite not reporting to spring training. Franco remains under contract through 2032 and is owed $174 million.

If there is no resolution by June 1, the parties could extend Franco's administrative leave, place him on the restricted list — where he would not be paid — or come to an alternate