Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays teased the reveal of their City Connect uniforms on Thursday in a post on X.

It's definitely not... 🤫 pic.twitter.com/7cI2SBSLDz

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 25, 2024

The Rays will unveil the new uniforms on April 29 before they'll be worn in a game for the first time on May 3.

Tampa Bay is one of nine teams that will be revealing a City Connect uniform in 2024. The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies have already released their alternate uniforms, while six other teams are still waiting. This includes the Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, and Toronto Blue Jays.

Not only are the City Connect uniforms meant to have strong ties to the cities that the MLB teams represent, they've typically looked vastly different compared to each team's normal uniforms. For example, the Phillies' City Connect uniforms featured blue and yellow colors while the Mets' alternates were dark gray with some small purple aspects as well.

The Rays haven't gotten off to a strong start in 2024, owning the worst record in the AL East at 13-13. However, they're only 4.5 games back from first place in the division.

Perhaps the eventual release of new City Connect uniforms can help propel Tampa Bay back into the AL postseason picture.

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks called out what he believed were "horrible" baseballs that came out of the humidor at Coors Field during Friday's 10-7 loss to the Colorado Rockies.

Fairbanks came on in the ninth with the Rays up 7-6 and allowed three straight walks before making way for Jason Adam. After the game, the right-hander said the baseballs he was given on the mound weren't up to his liking and "overall bad," citing a general inconsistency.

Pete Fairbanks was not too happy with the consistency of the baseballs that were coming in during the bottom of the 9th. pic.twitter.com/5OHAyCVtq0

— Rays on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Rays) April 5, 2024

The Rockies have long utilized a humidor at Coors Field to help counteract the effects of the high altitude in Denver. The goal is to prevent the baseballs from drying out quickly in the thinner air. While Coors Field remains a hitter-friendly park, it's nowhere near the kind of launching pad it was in the pre-Humidor 1990s.

Still, Rockies reliever Peter Lambert, who's much more accustomed to the conditions, admitted there can be an adjustment with the baseballs.

"There's definitely a difference. It's definitely different," he told reporters. "Sometimes, it can be a little more dry and the ball can feel a little more chalky, for sure.

The Rays have two more games against Colorado before they head to Southern California for a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels. It's safe to assume Fairbanks will be happy when Tampa Bay is closer to sea level.

MLB has placed Tampa Bay Rays star Wander Franco on administrative leave through at least June 1, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The league originally placed Franco on administrative leave last August, where he remained for the duration of the 2023 season, after he became the subject of an investigation in the Dominican Republic regarding allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

The Rays subsequently reinstated Franco in a procedural move because the administrative leave designation is only applicable during the season.

The 23-year-old was arrested on Jan. 1 and granted a conditional release from jail a week later.

According to Passan and colleague Juan Arturo Recio, prosecutors allege Franco began a relationship with a teenage girl and had sex with her in December 2022, when she was 14. He allegedly acknowledged in a conversation their relationship "could cause problems for me" if the Rays were made aware.

"It is a rule for all teams that we cannot talk to minors, and yet I took the risk and I loved it," he wrote to her, per Passan and Recio.

Franco allegedly provided money and gifts to the girl and her mother in part to keep quiet about the relationship. The girl's mother is facing charges of money laundering, according to the ESPN report.

Prosecutors pointed to "transcripts of interviews with the girl and her relatives, messages between Franco and the girl, and more" as evidence against Franco, per ESPN.

Jay Reisinger, an attorney for the 23-year-old, issued a statement to Passan and Recio addressing the allegations.

"There are serious questions regarding the authenticity of particular documents and references contained in the prosecutor's confidential file, which was inappropriately disclosed to certain media outlets," he said. "We are in consultation with Mr. Franco's legal counsel in the Dominican Republic, and we intend to take the necessary legal measures in response."

By going on administrative leave, Franco is entitled to collect his $2 million salary for the 2024 season. According to Passan, his status could change before June 1 depending on how his case evolves. MLB and the MLB Players Association could instead decide to extend his period on administrative leave or shift him to the restricted list, in which case he'd no longer be paid.

Coming off five consecutive playoff appearances, the Tampa Bay Rays have rewarded manager Kevin Cash and president of baseball operations Erik Neander with new contracts.

Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, terms of the deals weren't initially available, but the deals are expected to keep Cash and Neander under contract beyond the Rays' planned move into their new stadium for the 2028 season.

Topkin noted the club is expected to officially announced the extensions on Thursday.

Cash was entering the final guaranteed season of a six-year extension he signed with the Rays in October 2018. The deal included a team option for 2025, which Topkin noted was incorporated into this new contract.

Neander previously signed an extension late in the 2021 season that reportedly ran through the 2026 campaign.

According to Topkin, Rays officials aren't planning to publicly discuss the deals for Cash and Neander until a scheduled media conference on the first day of spring training this coming Tuesday in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Neander has spent his entire front-office career with the Rays when he was hired as an intern in 2007. He was hired as a full-time employee by the end of that season and was promoted to director of baseball operations in 2012.

The Rays named Neander their vice president of baseball operations in 2014. He took over as senior vice president of baseball operations and general manager two years later.

When Neander signed his most recent deal in 2021, the Rays promoted him to president of baseball operations.

Cash spent two years on Terry Francona's staff in Cleveland from 2013 to '14. He was hired by the Rays as their new manager in December 2014 after Joe Maddon left to join the Chicago Cubs.

At the time, Cash was the youngest manager (37 years old) hired by an MLB team since 2009 when A.J. Hinch got the Arizona Diamondbacks' job at the age of 34.

After missing the playoffs in each of Cash's first four seasons, the Rays have made the postseason every year since 2019. They have the fourth-most wins (421) in Major League Baseball over the past five seasons.

Cash is 15 wins away from tying Maddon for the most in franchise history (754). His .545 winning percentage is the best in team history.

New details have emerged regarding the Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic) Prosecutor's Office's open investigation into Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been presented with charges of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering in response to an alleged sexual relationship with a then 14-year-old girl.

ESPN's Jeff Passan and Juan Arturo Recio obtained the Dominican prosecutors' 600-page document regarding the case, which was presented to the judge this month.

The document reportedly contains evidence against the 22-year-old Franco, who has been under investigation since July 10, 2023, when a formal complaint was filed.

Franco, then 21, is accused of beginning a sexual relationship with the 14-year-old girl in December 2022 after meeting her online.

Franco is said to have paid the girl's 35-year-old mother tens of thousands of dollars (both during and after the relationship) and given her a car as well.

The mother has also been charged with commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering in this case, per Martín Adames Alcántara and Dánica Coto of the Associated Press.

The relationship reportedly began after Franco took the girl away from her Puerto Plata home on Dec. 9 for two days. Franco, who has been married since 2021 and has two sons, then had a four-month relationship with her.

ESPN provided more details, including Franco's alleged grooming of the girl.

"A cousin who grew up with the girl's mother later told authorities that Franco would send a helicopter to Montellano, a town near Puerto Plata, to pick up the girl and bring her to see him. Other times, she said, Franco's driver would ferry the girl from Puerto Plata to Franco's hometown of Bani, a 3½-hour car ride. One time, the cousin said, the mother paid a taxi driver 16,000 pesos ($275) so the girl could meet with Franco in Bani.

"Franco, the girl told the psychologist, was not shy about being seen in public with her. They went to 'various social events,' she said, and she relied on his money 'to be formal and groomed and not repeat clothes.' When her mother found out about the relationship, the girl said, 'she suddenly started telling him that I needed things' and asked for 100,000 pesos a month."

Their relationship began to deteriorate as Franco went to spring training and got ready for the 2023 regular season.

The girl began seeing someone else and told Franco on WhatsApp.

Franco reportedly wrote in response: "I would like you to forget everything you have learned to raise you my way."

The girl then asked: "And what is your way? Without love? Without respect?"

Franco allegedly answered: "There was more to it but you're just a girl and you don't know how to get along with me, that's why you failed, but I'll give you only one chance, you must be only for me. Don't look at anyone, I know you've been with someone else, but no one will know how to use you the way I want."

Per the documents, the conversation reportedly led to the girl contacting a reporter. Her mother then filed the official complaint to prosecutors.

The documents claim, however, that Franco still gave the girl and her mother tens of thousands of dollars after the relationship ended.

"In July and August, Franco had given the girl 2.7 million pesos (about $46,000) to support herself until college. With it, she bought an iPhone, an iPad, her school uniform, supplies and personal items. Her cousin helped her open a bank account to deposit the remainder, around $37,500.

"Franco had furnished the girl's mother with even more money. The mother's receipt of monthly 100,000 pesos payments from Franco -- about $1,700 -- and a new car (a 2023 Suzuki Swift) were discovered by prosecutors during a September raid. Authorities also found $68,500 in American dollars and another 800,000 pesos ($13,700) in her home."

During the summer, Franco is also accused of stating the following, writing in Spanish on WhatsApp: "My girl. If my team realizes this, it could cause problems for me. It is a rule for all teams that we cannot talk to minors, and yet I took the risk and I loved it."

In August, the girl made a since-deleted social media post about the relationship:

"Look, I'm going to tell you in confidence why I do all this. He used me and as you saw in the messages, he bribed me a lot and they took me out of the school I was in because of him, he has damaged my life and he has not even tried to fix it."

MLB placed Franco on administrative leave on Aug. 22, soon after news of the alleged relationship reached the public.

The girl has since spoken with a forensic psychologist about her severely damaged and toxic relationship with her mother, who she said "see[s] me as an object to make money." She said her mother "gets violent" and drinks heavily as well.

"I don't see her as a mother," the girl told the psychologist. "A mother doesn't do what she has done with me."

This is not the only accusation against Franco, as Recio noted on Dec. 28: "At least two people have filed legal action against Franco. He is also under investigation for allegedly having a relationship with a third minor, sources told ESPN, although there has been no formal complaint to authorities from the third girl."

Franco was arrested after failing to appear in court "to answer a summons from a governmental child-welfare unit" in the Dominican Republic regarding the matter.

Eventually, he did appear before authorities, per ESPN.

"When he finally met with authorities on Jan. 1, he was booked and remained in jail through Jan. 8, when he paid bail after the prosecution's hearing a few days earlier for coercive measures, a pretrial procedure in which officials try to prevent the accused from fleeing, destroying evidence or intimidating accusers and witnesses."

Franco denied the allegations on Instagram Live over the summer. Since then, his only official comments were "it's all in God's hands" during a break at the hearing, per the AP.

Franco's American-based attorney, Jay Reisinger, raised questions about the findings in the prosecutors' file, per a statement made to ESPN.

"There are serious questions regarding the authenticity of particular documents and references contained in the prosecutor's confidential file, which was inappropriately disclosed to certain media outlets. We are in consultation with Mr. Franco's legal counsel in the Dominican Republic, and we intend to take the necessary legal measures in response."

Franco is currently out on $35,000 bail and could face up to 20 years in prison, per ESPN.

Franco was MLB's top prospect in 2021, and his promise led to an 11-year, $182 million contract after the end of his rookie year. He made his first All-Star team this past season.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was released from a Dominican Republic jail on Monday as authorities continue to investigate allegations he had an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old girl, per the Associated Press.

A judge ordered his conditional release on Friday, which will allow him to leave the Dominican Republic but will require him to return once per month to check in with authorities. As part of the release, he had to pay a deposit of two million Dominican pesos ($34,000).

https://twitter.com/hgomez27/status/1744459627490664544

Per the Associated Press, Franco has been accused of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering. Authorities have alleged that Franco paid the girl's 35-year-old mother $1,700 per month and bought her a car in exchange for consent to "allow the relationship and let her go out with him wherever she wanted," according to court documents.

The alleged relationship last for four months, starting in December 2022.

In September, authorities seized over $82,000 from the home of the girl's mother, a guarantee certificate from a bank at another home for $36,000—allegedly from Franco for the "commercial and sexual exploitation" of the 14-year-old girl—and a Suzuki Swift worth $26,600.

The mother faces the same potential charges as Franco and has been placed under house arrest. Franco, who has claimed the accusations were part of an extortion claim against him, has not been formally charged with any crimes to this point.

The 22-year-old has appeared in parts of three seasons for the Tampa Bay Rays during his MLB career. He was placed on indefinite administrative leave by the league in August.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been conditionally released amid an ongoing investigation into accusations that he engaged in a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and gave her 35-year-old mother thousands of dollars and a car for consent.

Per Martín Adames Alcántara and Dánica Coto of the Associated Press, court documents reveal that a Dominican judge has allowed Franco to leave the Dominican Republic but must return to the country once a month so he can meet with authorities.

MLB insider Héctor Gómez provided more information.

"A judge has ruled that Wander Franco must post bail for 2 million Dominican pesos, about 35k dollars and present himself to court once a month for 6 months as part of the process against him. The mother of the minor in the center of the allegations who's accused of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundry was ordered to remain on House Arrest and can't leave the Dominican Republic."

According to ESPN's Juan Recio (h/t ESPN's Jeff Passan), there are three accusations that Franco, who turned 22 in March, engaged in relationships with minors.

The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18. Per Passan, "anyone over 18 who engages in a sexual relationship with someone younger than 18 can be charged criminally."

Recio provided more information on Dec. 28: "At least two people have filed legal action against Franco. He is also under investigation for allegedly having a relationship with a third minor, sources told ESPN, although there has been no formal complaint to authorities from the third girl."

The Rays placed Franco on the restricted list on August 14, and he has been on administrative leave since August 22. He has been away from the team since August 12, his last game with the Rays. MLB has been investigating Franco since social media posts alleged that he had a relationship with a minor, per TMZ Sports.

An investigation was opened in the Dominican Republic's National Agency for Boys, Girls, Adolescents and Family and Gender Violence Unit in August, per Alcántara. The first formal complaint was filed against Franco on July 17, per Passan.

The Dominican Republic's Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Children and Adolescents issued a summons to Franco to address allegations of inappropriate relationships on Dec. 28.

Recio reported last week that Franco failed to appear after being summoned by the Dominican Republic's Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Children and Adolescents.

Four days later, Franco spoke with authorities, and he was soon arrested for failing to appear for questioning, per the AP.

Wander Franco Update:

After being interrogated by prosecutors, Wander Franco is now under arrest at Puerto Plata. https://t.co/5xSfIC4OsI

— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) January 1, 2024

The AP provided more information on that front: "Franco, who was detained Monday in the northern province of Puerto Plata, hasn't been charged with any crimes. The judge has received a nearly 600-page document detailing the evidence that prosecutors gathered during a monthslong investigation."

On Wednesday, Dominican prosecutors asked a judge, Rumaldi Marcelino, to "hold Franco on an $86,000 bond, bar him from leaving the Dominican Republic and place him under house arrest," per the AP.

On Friday, the judge had these options, per the AP: "release Franco on bond, temporarily arrest him, prevent him from leaving the Dominican Republic or demand that he make occasional appearances until the investigation or a trial has ended."

The allegations against Franco in this specific court case revolve around an alleged four-month relationship that he had with a 14-year-old girl from Puerto Plata.

Per the AP:

"Authorities accuse Franco of taking the minor away from her home in Puerto Plata in December 2022 and having a four-month relationship with her with consent from the girl's mother.

"They accuse Franco of sending the mother monthly payments of $1,700 for seven months and buying her a car 'in order to allow the relationship and let her go out with him wherever she wanted' according to the document, which quoted the girl."

The AP also reported that authorities raided the girl's mother's home last September and seized the Dominican peso equivalent of $13,700 in American dollars. They were also reported to find the equivalent of $68,500 hidden behind a frame.

That's in addition to another raid at a different home in which authorities reportedly found a guarantee certificate derived from a local bank for the equivalent of $36,000. Authorities allege that Franco delivered that certificate for the "commercial and sexual exploitation" of the girl.

Court documents also claim that authorities took a Suzuki Swift worth $26,600. The girl's mother also reportedly purchased a $36,000 property in Puerto Plata.

Franco, who was listed as baseball's top prospect in 2021, played in MLB for three seasons. He signed an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021 and made his first All-Star team in 2023.

Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic requested Tampa Bay Rays star Wander Franco be held on $86,000 bond after alleging he committed commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering, according to the Associated Press' Martín Adames Alcántara.

Prosecutors also want Franco to be placed under house arrest and prohibited from leaving the country.

In August, Dominican authorities began investing multiple complaints against Franco stemming from an alleged relationship with a minor. MLB and the players' union agreed to place him on administrative leave, where he remained for the duration of the 2023 season.

Dominican newspaper Listín Diario (via Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times) reported on Dec. 26 the Santo Domingo Prosecutor's Office for Children and Adolescents had conducted two searches for Franco but were unable to locate him.

According to ESPN, prosecutor Olga Diná Llaverías requested he appear for a meeting two days later, and the 22-year-old failed to show up. He was arrested Monday after he eventually agreed to an interview lasting multiple hours.

The AP reported prosecutors provided the judge with evidence Wednesday corroborating the allegations.

"The judge has several options: release Franco on bond, temporarily arrest him, prevent him from leaving the Dominican Republic or demand that he make occasional appearances until the investigation or a trial has ended," Alcántara wrote.

Along with the ongoing legal case against him, Franco remains under investigation by MLB. The Rays reinstated the 2023 All-Star in November but only because administrative leave doesn't extend into the offseason.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was detained by Dominican authorities on Monday after being questioned at Puerto Plata's prosecutor's office amid an investigation to into his alleged relationships with minors, per Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times.

MLB insider Héctor Gómez, who cited Dominican lawyer Félix Portes, reported Monday that Franco will be arraigned on Wednesday and that "prosecutors are expected to ask for Wander to remain in Jail with no bail as the process continues."

ESPN's Juan Arturo Recio reported last week that Franco failed to appear after being summoned by the Dominican Republic's Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Children and Adolescents.

Lawyers who had been representing Franco said at the time that they had been fired by the shortstop and weren't able to get the summons to him, according to Ackert. Franco is now being represented by Teodosio Jáquez Encarnación and Francisco Rodríguez Consoró, who joined him on Monday for questioning.

Franco is being investigated for allegedly having inappropriate relationships with minors in the Dominican Republic, where he is from. Allegations first surfaced in August, and Major League Baseball placed the 22-year-old on administrative leave.

Franco appeared in 112 games for the Rays during the 2023 season before being placed on leave. The last time he suited up for the franchise was Aug. 12 against the Cleveland Guardians.

Two people have filed formal complaints against Franco, and he is also being investigated for having an inappropriate relationship with a third minor, who has not taken legal action.

No criminal charges have been filed against Franco.

Franco was once viewed as one of the best young players in all of baseball and he agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract extension with the Rays in November 2021 after hitting .288/.347/.463 with seven home runs and 39 RBI in 70 games as a rookie.

Franco earned his first All-Star selection in 2023 after slashing .281/.344/.475 with 17 home runs, 58 RBI and 30 stolen bases.

Franco's playing status for 2024 remains unclear amid the ongoing investigation in his native Dominican Republic.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco did not show up at the Dominican Republic's Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Children and Adolescents on Thursday despite being summoned to do so.

According to ESPN's Juan Arturo Recio, agency director Olga Diná Llaverías said that Franco did not respond to the summons and noted that the agency has a few options at its disposal as the investigation continues.

Franco is under investigation for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with minors. Two people have taken legal action against Franco, and he is being investigated for allegedly having a relationship with a third minor.

Franco hasn't yet had any criminal charges filed against him.

The allegations surfaced in August, at which point Franco was placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball.

Franco, 22, was named an All-Star for the first time last season with a .281 batting average, 17 home runs, 58 RBI and 30 stolen bases, but he did not play for the remainder of the season after being placed on leave.

Once widely viewed as the top prospect in baseball, Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract extension with the Rays in November 2021, just 70 games into his MLB career.

The Rays have not commented on Franco's status since releasing a statement after he was initially placed on administrative leave, and his future with the Rays and MLB as a whole remains uncertain.