After Wander Franco’s conviction, Rays weigh shortstop options

TAMPA, Fla. – Once Tampa Bay Rays’ shortstop Wander Franco was placed on Major League Baseball’s restricted list nearly two years ago, his future with the team, and how the club moves forward were inexplicably tied.

Now that Franco was convicted of sexual abuse with a minor in his native Dominican Republic, his fate, as a major league baseball player, appears sealed tight. Though found guilty, Franco was sentenced by Judge Jakayra Veras to a suspended sentence, no further jail time and a five-year probationary period. That is contingent upon no contact with minors in the pursuit of sexual favors.

In addition to Franco’s verdict, the mother of the then 14-year-old with whom Franco had contact Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, was convicted of sex trafficking her daughter, received an alleged $82,200 from Franco for making her daughter available to Franco and was sentenced to 10 years behind bars.

Once a prominent star in the baseball galaxy, Franco, at the age of 21 years, was presented on a contract which was designed for a player with much greater experience. In November, 2021, Franco and Rays agreed on an 11-year, $172 million contract, but this agreement was dramatically severed less than two years into the deal.

“Major League Baseball is proud to have a collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy that reflects our commitment to these issues,” Major League Baseball said in a statement right after the judgment. “We are aware of (the June 26) verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time.”

The legal scenario for Franco may be far from ending.

Based on his conviction, Franco will likely have difficulty in obtaining a work visa and find employment in the United States. If he is unsuccessful in obtaining a work visa, Franco remains on MLB’s restrictive list. This means the Rays are not required to pay any amount relating to the $172 million contract.

Going forward, Franco faces two additional challenges.

First, he can be subjected to disciplinary action under MLB’s policy regarding domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. In addition, he may face charges in his native Dominican Republic for gun possession.

Last November, Franco was arrested for illegally carrying a semiautomatic Glock 19 during a conflict over a woman’s attention in a parking lot in San Juan de la Maguana. Authorities revealed the gun was registered to Franco’s uncle.

All of which over the past two years, has sent the Rays scrambling for talent at shortstop. At the time of placement on MLB’s restrictive list, Franco was regarded as a rising star and named to the 2023 American League All-Star team. In parts of three seasons with Tampa Bay, Franco, who is now 24 years old, has a career .282 batting average (292-for-1037) 30 home runs and 130 RBIs.

Immediately, field manager Kevin Cash filled the void with Taylor Walls (now in his fourth season with the Rays), traded for Jose Caballero, and signed veteran Ha-Seong Kim, who has not played this season. Kim is recovering from right shoulder inflammation surgery. Kim, with a career .242 batting average in parts of four seasons with San Diego, signed a two-year deal in February 2025 for a reported $29 million.

While the Rays have struggled to replace Franco, the future may lie with Carson Williams, who turned 22 on June 25. Through the first 70 games of the current season at Triple-AAA Durgam, he was hitting .212 (53-for-250). That included 11 doubles, 12 home runs, and 36 RBIs. In parts of four seasons in the Tampa Bay organization, Williams batted .249.

Out of San Diego, Calif., Williams was the Rays first round pick, and 28^th overall, in the 2021 draft.

The post After Wander Franco’s conviction, Rays weigh shortstop options first appeared on Through The Fence Baseball.

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