Wander Franco case may get more complicated as resolution nears

scheduled tribe. PETERSBURG – We’ve long been dealing with speculation and hypotheticals when it comes to Wander Franco.

We know enough about the allegations of underage relationships to dismiss them but, anecdotally, we have heard very little from investigators and prosecutors in the Dominican Republic. We can guess, we can guess, but we can’t deliberate with much confidence.

The deadline to file charges was last week, but a judge has the discretion to give prosecutors and victims an additional 10 days to make their case, so additional clarity is, presumably, not far off.

And this means that the hypothetical questions we are debating will gradually turn into moral questions.

Innocence or guilt will have to be decided by the court.

But the rest of the world will consider it right or wrong. Acceptable or unacceptable. The way back or the map to nowhere.

There have been whispers in recent weeks that Franco is hopeful he will be cleared before the end of the season and return to the Rays clubhouse. Maybe he got a positive report from his legal team, or maybe he was just delusional. Somehow, I can’t imagine that a potential comeback would be so smooth.

First, there is the question of Major League Baseball’s investigation. As the Trevor Bauer case shows, if the Commissioner’s office determines that his behavior warrants a suspension, formal charges are not necessary. Franco could argue that he has already missed more than 130 games while awaiting the legal process, but it’s unclear whether MLB will consider this.

And beyond the possibility of formal punishment, there’s also the potential anger of fans.

If, for whatever reason, he avoids charges, there will still be questions about social media posts that indicate Franco had some type of relationship with a 14-year-old girl when he was 20. It won’t be easily forgotten by some Rays fans, and it certainly won’t go unnoticed at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium and other MLB sites.

This may sound gross, but the simplest solution is a conviction and prison sentence.

This is probably the only way the Rays can get rid of the $172 million they still owe. They will lose the most talented player ever to Tampa Bay – only Evan Longoria and Josh Hamilton are closer – but they will avoid a serious financial blow.

But are you comfortable anticipating someone’s downfall? Hopefully a condemnable crime was committed? Hopefully the mother of a teenage girl was involved in setting up Franco with her daughter in exchange for money?

And yet, anything less than conviction will inevitably lead to other complications.

What if prosecutors decide lesser charges are needed? It would put Reyes in trouble if Franco shows up on their doorstep after possibly having some sort of inappropriate behavior with a young girl. Can a team that has been fearless in supporting social issues like gun control and LGBTQ rights take back a player with such a questionable episode in his past? Can’t they afford the money they owe?

What if prosecutors reluctantly drop the case but make it clear they still believe a crime occurred? Would fans and teammates be comfortable having Franco in a Rays uniform in that scenario?

The problem is that this isn’t just a baseball question. It’s not just a legal distinction or an ethical debate or a financial conundrum.

These are all similar things, and there is likely no clear answer.

The Bauer situation involved troubling allegations – with some medical and visual evidence to support it – that soured the public’s perception of the former Cy Young Award winner, even though prosecutors declined to press charges. Bauer also had some questionable interactions in his past that made it easy for MLB teams to decide that his work on the mound was not worth the reaction that would follow.

Franco is small, has a high ceiling and is scheduled to be paid quadruple the amount the Dodgers paid Bauer. Franco’s comeback would seem more likely, but only if he avoids legal complications.

So, what do you expect?

Pardon? Lack of evidence? A payoff? A conviction?

how about this?

Let us all pray for justice, let us settle the rest later.

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