Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Indicted on federal charges
Rotowire
Clase was indicted Sunday on multiple federal charges related to rigging bets on pitches thrown in MLB games, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Cleveland's former closer missed the final two-plus months of the 2025 season while being investigated by MLB, and he and teammate Luis L. Ortiz are now formally being charged in federal court, with Ortiz already having been arrested earlier Sunday. The indictment alleges that the pitchers were paid to intentionally throw balls so bettors could wager on the pitches being a ball or a strike. Clase, who is a three-time All-Star and led the majors in saves in each of the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons, is facing a maximum of 65 years in prison if convicted on all charges, per Passan.
MLB and the MLBPA announced Sunday that Clase will remain on non-disciplinary paid leave until further notice while MLB continues its sports-betting investigation.
The Guardians aren't planning on commenting further on Clase's status until the investigation concludes, but the reliever's locker at Progressive Field was cleared out nearly a month ago, which implies that the right-hander isn't expected to pitch again this season. Clase remains under club control through 2028, but whether he returns to the mound with the Guardians or another team down the road won't become clear until MLB releases the findings of its investigation.
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Guardians' Emmanuel Clase: Will remain on restricted list
Rotowire
Clase is expected to remain on the restricted list and administrative leave for the remainder of the season as MLB continues its sports-betting investigation, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
The news comes as no surprise, as Clase's locker at Progressive Field was cleared out at the beginning of the month. The right-hander has been away from the Guardians since late July and there's no word on when MLB's investigation could conclude. The reliever's future in baseball is very much in doubt.
Clase's locker has been cleared out in the Guardians' clubhouse Friday as he remains under investigation by MLB, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through Aug. 31 as part of MLB's sports-betting investigation, but his locker being cleared out could signal that the Guardians don't expect Clase to be back with the team this season. Teammate Luis L. Ortiz also had his locker cleared out Friday, as he is also on paid leave in the same gambling investigation. Clase's fall from grace has been quick after he finished third in AL Cy Young voting last season. It remains to be seen if he'll pitch again in the majors.
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