MLB moves Cleveland Guardians relievers Clase, Ortiz to unpaid leave pending pitch-rigging trial
Major League Baseball announced Friday that Cleveland Guardians relief pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz will shift to unpaid leave while awaiting trial on federal charges alleging they rigged pitches to benefit gamblers.
The players were placed on paid, non-disciplinary administrative leave over the summer when MLB began its investigation and alerted federal authorities.
"This agreement is not an admission of any wrongdoing by Clase or Ortiz," MLB said. "MLB has been closely monitoring the matter since alerting federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and will have no further comment until its investigation has been completed." The change resulted from an agreement between the league and the MLB Players Association.
Clase, a 27-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic, and Ortiz, a 26-year-old right-hander from Venezuela, were indicted on November 9, 2025, in a federal gambling probe centered in Brooklyn, New York. Clase pleaded not guilty and was released on $600,000 bond with restrictions including GPS monitoring, limited travel to New York and Ohio, passport surrender and a ban on gambling.
Emmanuel Clase has served as the Guardians' primary closer since 2022, when he converted 35 of 38 save opportunities. He signed a five-year, $20 million contract extension with Cleveland on November 23, 2021.[1]
In 2024, Clase recorded 47 saves over 66 appearances, posting a 0.61 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings.[2] Ortiz appeared in 40 games that season, logging a 3.83 ERA in 37 1/3 innings.[2]
The Guardians finished the 2024 regular season 92-69, first in the American League Central, before losing to the Detroit Tigers in the wild-card round.[3]
Sources
- MLB.com
Guardians, Clase agree to five-year extension
November 23, 2021
https://www.mlb.com/news/guardians-emmanuel-clase-contract-extension - Baseball-Reference.com
Emmanuel Clase / Luis Ortiz player pages
Accessed October 2024
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/claseem01.shtml
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ortizlu02.shtml - MLB.com
2024 Postseason results
Accessed October 2024
https://www.mlb.com/postseason/2024
