Ray Pearson
The 22-year-old All-Star Wander Franco did not board the team jet to San Francisco before the Rays’ series with the Giants, sources told ESPN, because Major League Baseball was investigating social media posts concerning the Tampa Bay shortstop.
According to a statement released by the Rays on Sunday, “during today’s game, we were made aware of the social media posts that are circulating regarding Wander Franco.”
We take the problem seriously, and Major League Baseball and I are in constant contact as it performs its due diligence.
The content of the posts on social media was not specified by Tampa Bay.
As MLB investigates the social media posts to confirm the details, Franco can be put on the restricted list or put on administrative leave.
Franco wasn’t on the team plane, so when the Rays were questioned about it by ESPN, they chose not to respond.
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Franco, who didn’t participate in the game against Cleveland on Sunday, started the game in the Rays’ dugout before leaving in the fifth inning.
After Tampa Bay lost 9-2, he avoided speaking to the media.
The Wander Franco snapback hat for fans 14 and under was the promotion on Sunday at Tropicana Field.
When asked whether there was anything other than a usual day off for Franco to sit out the game, Rays manager Kevin Cash declined to comment. Cash retorted, “No.”
I am aware of the rumors, but I will not elaborate further, Cash stated. The reason it was a holiday was that it was a holiday.
Osleivis Basabe was promoted by the Rays and will begin the season at shortstop.
On Saturday night while playing for Triple-A Durham, Basabe, who went 1-for-3 with a double, discovered he was being promoted.
Teams have employed the restricted list, in which a player is removed from the roster and typically not paid, for a number of reasons, including treatment for substance addiction, arrests, failure to report, problems with visas, and at the request of players to resolve particular problems.
while a player is placed on administrative leave, they are removed from the roster but still receive compensation.
This is what happened in the case of former Los Angeles Dodgers starter Trevor Bauer while the league was looking into domestic abuse claims made against him.
A player cannot be put on administrative leave unless both MLB and the MLBPA agree to it.
Franco signed a $182 million, 11-year contract with Tampa Bay in November 2021; if the team exercised its 2033 option, the deal’s value could rise to $223 million.
Among the league leaders in wins above replacement this season, Franco, who was selected to his first All-Star team, is batting.
In 112 games, the player has a slash line of 281/.344/.475 with 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 30 of 40 tries at basestealing.
Franco was benched by the Rays earlier this season for “not being the best teammate,” according to Cash, in how he handled his anger on the field.
On Monday, the Giants and Rays will play the first game of a three-game series.