Inquiry into All-star Franco handled by special division
An investigation into Tampa Bay All-star shortstop Wander Franco is being handled by a division specializing in minors and gender violence in the Peravia province, a prosecutor in the Dominican Republic said. Angel Dario Tejda Fabal said the probe is in its early stages. The Rays placed Franco, 22, on the restricted list Monday. MLB is investigating him after social media posts questioned the nature of his relationship with a younger woman.
Royals: Commissioner Rob Manfred threw his support behind a new stadium while in town for a discussion at the Urban Youth Academy. The 64-year-old toured both sites the team is considering and called both “unbelievably high quality” for the type of revenue-producing, multi-use districts necessary for small-market clubs to compete. The team said it wants to settle on a location in September.
Angels: Infielder Daniel Murphy’s comeback bid ended with the 38-year-old three-time All-star retiring after 38 games with Triple-a Salt Lake. Murphy hit .295 with one homer and 25 RBIS in 38 games with the Bees. An MVP runner-up in 2016 and twotime Silver Slugger award winner, Murphy hit .296 in 12 major league seasons with four teams. He last played in the majors in 2020.
Cubs: Right-hander Marcus Stroman will be sidelined indefinitely after an MRI examination revealed a cartilage fracture in his right rib. The 32-year-old, who had been nursing a sore hip, was to have come off the injured list Wednesday. He had a 9.11 ERA in July after compiling a 2.59 mark over the season’s first three months.