Report: Phillies ask Franco to stop playing in winter league

Not long after being suspended by his Dominican Winter League club, Gigantes del Cibao, the Philadelphia Phillies have asked third baseman Maikel Franco to change his focus.

The team instead wants him to prepare for spring training, sources told z101 Digital's Hector Gomez.

Related: Phillies' Franco suspended by winter league team after partying on game day

The suspension was eventually lifted after Franco issued an apology.

The beleaguered infielder struggled in 2017, batting .230/.281/.409 with 24 home runs over 154 games. He's trended downward after a promising 2015 when he hit 14 home runs over 80 games with a .280/.343/.497 slash line.

Franco is the Phillies' starting third baseman, but he's been the topic of trade talks dating back to last summer.