Franco and the Rays are nearing an agreement on an extension which could pay the shortstop approximately $200 million over at least 10 seasons, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Hector Gomez of Z Deportes reports the deal has already been signed, though Topkin's report indicates the details won't be finalized until after Thanksgiving. Franco is widely considered a generational talent and is on the cusp of being paid like one, with the reported offer roughly doubling the $100 million Ronald Acuna received from the Braves at a similar stage in his career back in April of 2019. Any extension won't meaningfully change Franco's fantasy outlook, as he was always likely to remain a Ray for the next few years with or without a deal. Additionally, while the reported terms would potentially mean Franco remains with the team for at least a decade, the penny-pinching Rays could still wind up trading him once he reaches the more expensive years of the deal, something that could also have happened without an extension.