The Texas Rangers are making it clear they will not be pursuing shortstop Wander Franco, as the embattled former All-Star’s MLB future crumbles under the weight of serious legal consequences. Franco, who received a two-year suspended sentence in the Dominican Republic for the sexual abuse of a minor, is now considered virtually unreturnable to the United States — shutting the door on any potential signing or trade interest from teams across the league, including Texas.
Sources close to the Rangers’ front office confirmed the club is not exploring Franco as an option, despite their ongoing evaluation of infield depth ahead of the trade deadline. “This is not a direction we’re going, and we’re focused on the right kind of fit for this clubhouse,” said one team official.
The 24-year-old shortstop, once seen as one of baseball’s brightest young talents, now faces the end of his MLB journey. Franco has been hit with a legal blow that not only jeopardizes his career but may also cost him $154 million — the remaining balance on the 11-year, $182 million extension he signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021 after just 70 big-league games.
Because his conviction is classified as a crime involving moral turpitude, immigration laws may bar Franco from obtaining a U.S. work visa, effectively locking him out of Major League Baseball unless he wins an appeal. That appeal window closes five days after his formal sentencing on July 27.
Franco hasn’t taken the field since August 2023, when disturbing allegations about his relationship with a minor surfaced online. He was removed from the Rays’ roster and placed on paid administrative leave, eventually shifting to the restricted list following official charges in 2024.
The league has kept its investigation open. In a statement issued June 26, MLB confirmed that it is monitoring the case and will conclude its internal review once legal proceedings wrap up.
Adding to the legal firestorm, Franco’s case involves not only the minor in question but also her mother, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking her daughter. Franco was also recently charged in an unrelated incident involving the illegal possession of a handgun in San Juan de la Maguana in 2024.
For the Rangers — who are focused on building a winning culture, especially after recent postseason success — the decision to avoid any involvement with Franco is not just practical but ethical. As one executive noted, “We’re focused on players who represent the organization with integrity, both on and off the field.”
With the Rangers still looking to bolster their roster, the message is clear: Wander Franco will not be part of Texas’s future.
