Tampa Bay Rays’ shortstop, Wander Franco, has secured a huge bonus despite facing off-field challenges during the 2023 season.
Franco found himself on the restricted list on August 13, as MLB initiated investigations into an alleged relationship with a minor.
Following further inquiries by a specialized Minor and Gender Violence Division in Peravia, Franco was placed on indefinite administrative leave on August 22.
The conclusion of the 2023 season marked Franco’s return to the Rays’ 40-man roster, as administrative leave is exclusive to the in-season period.
However, his status for the upcoming 2024 season hinges on the outcome of the investigation.
Despite the off-field saga, Franco falls under the category of pre-arbitration players eligible for bonuses.
Note: The MLB’s pre-arbitration bonus pool is like a special money pot created in a deal between the baseball league and the players’ association in 2022. It’s meant to give extra bonuses to young players who are still in the early stages of their careers and haven’t gone through arbitration yet. These players usually get paid the minimum amount or a bit more, depending on how long they’ve been playing in the big leagues. The bonus pool is there to give these up-and-coming players extra money as a reward for their time and experience in the major leagues.
As reported by Tampa Bay Times, Franco’s bonus of $706,761 ranks 13th among the 101 players benefitting from this program.
The bonus payouts are determined by a joint Wins Above Replacement (WAR) metric, reflecting player performance, and voting results for specific awards.
Wander Franco earns $700,000 bonus from MLB pool despite ongoing investigationhttps://t.co/KYS3xSJerB
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) December 18, 2023
Franco will also receive the remaining portion of his $2 million salary for the 2023 season by December 31.
Further, if there are any potential legal ramifications in the Dominican Republic or disciplinary actions by MLB, it could impact Franco’s future payments.
Franco’s absence from the last 42 games of the season resulted in a missed opportunity for a larger bonus, as he was initially projected to earn $895,755 for the full season.
Wander Franco signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017.
Franco’s awaited promotion to the majors finally came on June 20, 2021, and he made an immediate impact, hitting a home run in his debut.
Throughout the 2021 season, Franco set impressive records, including reaching base safely in 37 consecutive games, surpassing Mickey Mantle’s mark for players under 21.
In November 2021, at the age of 20, Franco signed an eleven-year, $182 million contract extension with the Rays, making him the youngest player in MLB history to secure a deal worth over $100 million.
In the 2022 season, Franco became the youngest player in Rays history to achieve a multi-home run game at the age of 21.
However, he faced setbacks, including injuries that led to stints on the 10-Day IL and hand surgery, but he rebounded to be selected for his first All-Star game in 2023 as a replacement.
