Why the best team in baseball is benching one of its best players

Wander Franco will not be in the lineup on Thursday or Friday for the Tampa Bay Rays, and manager Kevin Cash said it is because he needs to do a better job dealing with his frustration and being a better teammate. 

“Over the course of this season, there's been probably multiple times that the way he has handled his frustrations have not been the way that we ask our players to uphold being the best teammate," Cash said, via Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "Wander is a really good kid, really good person. He's a young player that is learning and dealing with the challenges of being a major league player and some of the frustrations that come with it.”

Franco was one of the most hyped prospects in baseball when he made his debut three years ago and has not really disappointed during his first three years in the league. He is still only 22 years old and already one of the most exciting players in baseball. His production is strong and he has a flare for the game that not many players can bring.

But Cash still clearly sees some areas for him to improve. 

It is a fascinating situation. Cash is demonstrating leadership and attempting to cut off a problem before it gets too concerning, while also not going out of his way to needlessly rip the young player publicly. There is accountability, positive reinforcement and a timeframe put in place. 

The Rays have the best record in the major leagues at 52-25 entering play on Thursday.

Franco is hitting .287 with an .804 OPS, eight home runs and a team-leading 24 stolen bases. The Rays open a four-game series with the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. The Royals are one of the league's worst teams and Tampa Bay should be fine even without Franco in the lineup for a couple of games.