By Ronald Blum
Wander Franco was placed on administrative leave indefinitely by Major League Baseball on Tuesday while authorities in the Dominican Republic investigate the All-Star shortstop for an alleged relationship with a minor.
The 22-year-old will be paid and receive service time while on administrative leave under an agreement with the players' association that did not set a timetable for a decision on whether he will be disciplined.
Franco was placed on the restricted list for a week on Aug. 14 while MLB launched an investigation following social media posts suggesting he was in a relationship with a minor. The AP has not been able to verify the reported posts.
MLB said the shift to administrative leave was not disciplinary under the sport’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. The administrative leave did not have the usual seven-day limit under the policy, so it is possible Franco will not return this season.
Ángel Darío Tejeda Fabal, a prosecutor in the Dominican Republic province of Peravia, said last week an investigation into Franco was open under a division specializing in minors and gender violence.
MLB is likely to wait until that investigation is concluded before deciding whether there will be any discipline, a person familiar with the probe told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that was not announced.
Franco was held out of the Rays' lineup on Aug. 13 in what manager Kevin Cash said was a day off, then missed a six-game West Coast trip while on the restricted list. The Rays issued a statement Tuesday supporting the administrative leave decision.
MLB and the union agreed to the joint domestic violence policy in 2015. A player continues to receive pay and accrue major league service while on administrative leave.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer was on administrative leave from July 2, 2021, until the following April 29, when he was suspended for 324 games. The penalty was reduced by an arbitrator to 194 games. Bauer was accused of assault, an accusation he has repeatedly denied.
Franco has salaries of $2 million this season and next as part of a $182 million, 11-year contract that started in 2022.
He is in his third big league season and is hitting .281 with 17 homers, 58 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 40 attempts over 112 games.
Eighteen players have been disciplined by MLB under the domestic violence policy. The latest was New York Yankees pitcher Jimmy Cordero, who agreed on July 5 to a suspension for the final 76 games of the season.
In this week's episode of The Crypto Craze Cheddar Anchors Brad Smith and Baker Machado explain the biggest trends in the market. Cable and satellite entertainment company Starz filed a petition, asking the FCC to step in to resolve a fight with Altice. Facebook announces an update to its news policy. Amazon is increasing its prices.
To get you in the Super Bowl spirit PepsiCo is rolling out advertisements to gear up for the game. Greg Lyons, CMO of Pepsi Beverage, and Jen Saenz, CMO of Frito-Lay explain the messages behind the company's iconic ads this season.
On VF Hive: We’re joined by the crew from Vanity Fair's Hive to discuss Bannon's Mueller investigation subpoena. On Between Bells: Winter Olympics diplomacy, and Ellen Pompeo's payday. With New York Magazine, Latina Magazine, and FHM.
North Korea and South Korea shocked the world by announcing plans to march under a unified flag at the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. FHM's Nick Dimengo joins Cheddar to discuss whether the news will increase interest in the games.
The former Yankees star founded "The Players' Tribune" in 2014 as a way for athletes to tell their stories the way they want them to be told. The CEO says Facebook's changes only help get their story out there.
What's better than reading in-depth news about your favorite athletes, perhaps getting that news straight from the players' pen or mouth? "The Players' Tribune" is a sports media company started by Derek Jeter back in 2014. Since then, TPT has grown into video, continued to break news, and builds recognition in the sports space.
VICIS CEO Dave Marver discusses the Zero1 helmet, rated by the NFL as the safest ever made. Marver explains what makes the helmet different and what's next for the company.
People have compared trading on the stock market to playing a sport. You need to know the players, when to make your move, and how to win. So why not follow the sports industry and sports business like how you follow the stock market news? Corey Leff thinks you should. That is why he started "John Wall Street," a newsletter that covers the ins and outs of the sports industry.
Najee Goode is both a linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles and a design engineer for the app VEEPIO. The Super Bowl hopeful joins Cheddar to explain what the Eagles need to do to win on Sunday and why VEEPIO is helping fans be more engaged.
On VF Hive, we're joined by the crew at Vanity Fair's Hive to discuss Oprah's White House ambitions and Steve Bannon's next moves. Then on Between Bells, we break down the new allegations against James Franco and the Lavar Ball drama sweeping the NBA.
