Rays shortstop Wander Franco was placed on administrative leave by MLB on Tuesday amid multiple investigations into alleged relationships he had with underage girls in his native Dominican Republic.
"The administrative leave, effective immediately, is not disciplinary under the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. We will comment further at the appropriate time," MLB said in a statement Tuesday.
Should Franco not challenge the leave, which is his right during the first seven days, the league could ask the MLBPA to consent to a seven-day extension of the initial designation. Following the first 14 days on administration leave, the MLBPA and MLB must come to an agreement on any further extension.
MLB started its investigation into Franco within hours of social media messages Aug. 13 that alluded to Franco's relationship with a girl under the age of consent, which is 18 in the Dominican Republic.
The social media storm on Aug. 13 prompted the Rays to keep Franco from joining the team in San Francisco, where it was scheduled to play the next day. Tampa Bay and Franco agreed for him to spend the next week on the restricted list, but with a home series starting Tuesday against Colorado, the use of administrative leave rather than an extension of his restricted-list stay was expected.
If Franco were to challenge administrative leave -- during which he will be paid and accrue service time -- the case would go to a neutral arbitrator, who would decide whether there is"credible information" to support the allegations against him or if Franco rejoining the Rays would"cause significant disruption" to the team.Franco, who is in the second year of an 11-year, $182 million contract, was in the midst of a breakout season, batting .281/.344/.
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