The Rays are not any stranger to overcoming important losses. This season alone, Tampa Bay misplaced three main items of its rotation when Drew Rasmussen, Jeffrey Springs and Shane McClanahan went down with accidents earlier than the All-Star break.
Relating to changing proficient pitchers, the Rays are likely to make it work. Changing a expertise corresponding to Wander Franco is very tough. That is what the Rays have needed to do over the ultimate few weeks of the common season, and so they stay with out the 22-year-old for the postseason.
Even after Franco left the group, Tampa stored successful. The Rays completed 99-63, the second-best file within the American League, and battled the Orioles carefully for the AL East title down the stretch. Successful in October is a wholly totally different battle, nonetheless, and Franco’s absence could possibly be felt.
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This is what you should find out about Franco’s state of affairs and what his baseball future is perhaps.
What occurred to Wander Franco?
MLB and legislation enforcement within the Dominican Republic are investigating allegations that Franco had a sexual relationship with a minor. The Rays positioned Franco on the restricted listing on Aug. 14, and he was formally positioned on administrative go away by MLB the next week.
Since that time, updates on Franco’s standing have been scarce. The Rays started taking down Franco signage from Tropicana Area in August, and Tampa gave his locker to Francisco Mejia forward of the postseason.
Whereas the Rays stated the locker determination is only a matter of needing the area and is not a sign of any decision to the investigation, it is also another signal that Franco is not anticipated again at any level within the close to future.
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Will Wander Franco play once more this 12 months?
There isn’t a indication that Franco has an opportunity to return this season. Whereas the Rays have not made any announcement about his standing going ahead, there are not any expectations that the investigations might be resolved earlier than the top of the postseason.
The allegations towards Franco are very severe, so the Rays have typically averted going into element concerning the 22-year-old’s future in baseball.
Within the meantime, 20-year-old prospect Junior Caminero was known as up late within the common season and could possibly be in line to fill Franco’s function each within the postseason and probably 2024.
Wander Franco contract
Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract extension with the Rays in 2021, simply 5 months after making his MLB debut.
With Tampa enjoying in a small market and Franco having ranked as among the finest prospects in baseball, the Rays acted shortly to lock up a possible franchise cornerstone. Now, with 9 years left on the deal, Franco’s MLB future could be very a lot in query.
Whether or not the Rays will be capable to get out of Franco’s deal if there may be proof behind the allegations may change into a serious storyline additional down the highway.