Tampa Bay Rays infielder Wander Franco sits in the dugout during a game at the Tropicana in St Petersburg on Aug 13, 2023 during a MLB game. Franco was arrested on Sun Jan 1, 2024 and is under investigation allegation of having a inappropriate relationship with a minor in the Dominican Republic (AP News file photo)
On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:
#1 Former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco 22, appeared at a prosecutor’s office with his two attorneys Teodosio Jáquez Encarnación and Juan Francisco Rodríguez Consoró, to answer to accusations of inappropriate relationships with minors. Details of the meeting was not forthcoming. He has been accused by two people and a third person came forward and that investigation is forthcoming. Franco was placed on leave last season. Franco signed an 11 year $182 million contract in Nov 2021 with the Rays.
#2 It’s the big deal that everybody in MLB is talking about the Atlanta Braves acquired pitcher Chris Sale and cash for infielder Vaughn Grissom who goes to the Boston Red Sox. Sale last season for the Sox was 6-5, ERA 4.30 with 125 strike outs. Grissom last season for the Braves hit .280, 21 hits, no home runs and 9 RBIs.
#3 The Red Sox picked up pitcher Lucas Giolito who pitched for the Cleveland Guardians last season. Giolito joins the Sox in a two year $38.5 million deal. Giolito a left hander will join the Sox starting rotation. Giolito went 8-15 with 4.88 ERA.
#4 Two Detroit Tigers scouts Gary Pellant 68 and Randall Johnson 67 have filed a law suit against the Tigers for age discrimination. Both Pellant and Johnson were fired by the Tigers after the 2020 season because of the false stereotype that older scouts lacked the scouting tools regarding analytics. There have been 51 of 83 older scouts of other MLB scouts who filed age discrimination suits against MLB for age discrimination over the same charges. The lawsuit mentioned that after Rob Manfred became Commissioner in 2015 there has been of recruiting younger scouts and doing away with the older scouts who were 60 and over.
#5 Last Friday Amuary you wrote about Cuban native and Oakland A’s pitching prospect Luis Morales who signed for $3 million last season. Morales from Cuba throws a fast ball that is in the triple digits. In Cuba he had been making $40-200 a month pitching. Morales defected and was caught by Cuban authorities in Guantanamo in the process of escaping the island, but he finally defected two years ago and here he is now with the A’s.
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