Source: MLB extends Franco’s leave to July 14

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players’ Association have extended Wander Franco‘s administrative leave through July 14, a procedural move to buy more time for new developments to materialize in a potential criminal case, a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN on Thursday.

Franco, the embattled Tampa Bay Rays shortstop who faces allegations of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl in his native Dominican Republic and paying the teenager’s mother for her consent, will continue to be paid his $2 million salary while on leave.

Franco’s prior leave was set to expire on Saturday. The extension extends into MLB’s All-Star break and could spill into a critical point in the investigation; Dominican authorities face a July 5 deadline to present formal accusations against Franco, who has yet to be formally charged.

Franco, a 23-year-old who made his first All-Star team last year and was developing into one of the sport’s most exciting young players, spent the final six weeks of the 2023 season on leave after being accused of having sex with the teenage girl when he was 21.

Franco was initially accused by Dominican prosecutors of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering on Jan. 3; the mother of the girl, who was 14 when the alleged relationship began in December 2022, faced the same charge. Six days later, after further review of the evidence, a judge in the Dominican Republic instead accused Franco of a lesser charge of sexual and psychological abuse. If found guilty, he could face between two and five years in prison.

MLB launched a separate investigation into Franco that is not expected to be completed until after his criminal case is resolved. MLB and the MLBPA can agree once again to extend Franco’s leave if a resolution doesn’t occur before July 14. Franco can also be taken off administrative leave and face discipline if MLB gathers enough information before then.

The Tampa Bay Times first reported Franco’s leave extension.