Published on: March 21, 2026, 09:29h.
Updated on: March 21, 2026, 09:39h.
- Cleveland Guardians place pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz on unpaid non-disciplinary leave
- Both pitchers are set to appear in court in May concerning their involvement in an illicit gambling operation
- Guardians begin their season this Thursday against the Seattle Mariners
The Cleveland Guardians have placed pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz on unpaid non-disciplinary leave as they prepare for the new MLB season, pending their trial related to an alleged gambling operation.
Unpaid Leave Decision
This action follows an agreement between Major League Baseball (MLB) and the MLB Players Association, as reported by ESPN. Initially, the pitchers were put on paid leave last summer.
Ortiz and Clase were indicted last November and are expected to stand trial on May 4, though it may be postponed to the fall.
“As the legal case involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz progresses, MLB and the MLBPA have agreed that both players will continue on non-disciplinary leave from the team without pay until further updates,” stated Major League Baseball in a release to the Associated Press.
Contractual Details
“This arrangement does not imply any wrongdoing by Clase or Ortiz. MLB has been vigilant about this matter since notifying federal authorities at the start of the investigation and will refrain from commenting further until it has concluded its inquiry.”
Clase was expected to earn $6.4 million this season as part of a five-year, $20 million contract extension signed in 2022, according to Spotrac. Ortiz’s contract expired last season; being in the pre-arbitration phase, he stood to earn the league minimum of $780,000 this season if he was removed from the restricted list and played in the major leagues.
Allegations of Rigged Pitches
Both players are allegedly key figures in an illegal prop and parlay betting scheme. Federal prosecutors claim they manipulated their pitches during Major League games, intentionally throwing balls into the dirt or outside the strike zone to assist gamblers in the Dominican Republic with their bets. Clase and Ortiz reportedly accepted thousands of dollars as payoffs for their involvement.
It’s alleged that Clase even placed personal bets and communicated with gamblers through his mobile phone during an MLB game, alerting them about an upcoming rigged pitch, which allowed a gambler to win $27,000. Those betting in the Dominican Republic are said to have profited over $400,000 from more than 100 in-game wagers.
Legal Charges
The two pitchers face serious charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting events through bribery, and money laundering conspiracy.
Should they be found guilty, both defendants could face a significant prison sentence—up to 20 years for each wire fraud conspiracy count and an additional five years for the conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery count.
So far, both players have pleaded not guilty and remain out on bail as they prepare for their trial. Clase, a vital member of the Guardians’ pitching lineup, achieved 24 saves in 48 appearances before the investigation halted his performance last July. He recorded 42, 44, and 47 saves in 2022, 2023, and 2024 respectively, and has been acknowledged as an All-MLB 1st Team All-Star in both 2022 and 2024.
The Guardians are gearing up to kick off their 2026 season against the Mariners in Seattle this Thursday.