Baseball finance: Rays star loses Dominican pardon, faces $182 million contract uncertainty

Wander Franco’s legal status changed on Thursday as a Dominican appeals court revoked the judicial pardon granted to the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop.

The ruling restores his previous conviction for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, placing a suspended three-year prison sentence back on the books. Prosecutors argued that the lower court misapplied legal provisions meant for exceptional circumstances that did not fit Franco’s case. The defense team objected to the motion, but the appellate court sided with the prosecution. Franco will avoid custody if he maintains a fixed residence and stays under judicial supervision. Failure to meet these conditions triggers the full three-year term.

The legal process began when authorities announced an investigation in August 2023, halting Franco’s career while he was 22. He was arrested in January 2024 after allegations surfaced regarding a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Prosecutors stated that Franco transferred thousands of dollars to the girl’s mother to secure her consent. Franco, now 25, was convicted in June 2025. The Tampa Bay organization placed him on the restricted list six months later, stopping the salary he had been receiving during administrative leave.

The court cited Franco’s age and the goal of societal reintegration when imposing the conditional terms. The mother was found guilty of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering, with the court upholding her 10-year prison sentence. The court also ordered the forfeiture of approximately $34,000 found in her possession, which prosecutors identified as funds provided by Franco for her consent. Neither Franco nor his legal counsel provided statements to the press after the hearing. MLB declined to comment on the decision.

Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays in November 2021. He has not played in the majors since the investigation began. The team was eliminated from the World Series on Wednesday by the Milwaukee Brewers. Franco retains the right to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Justice of the Dominican Republic.