Guardians' Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz now on unpaid leave

Field Level Media
21 Mar 2026, 01:10 GMT+10

(Photo credit: David Banks-Imagn Images)

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were transferred to unpaid non-disciplinary leave on Friday as they await trial for allegedly rigging pitches to benefit gamblers.

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association agreed to the move after the pitchers were previously on paid non-disciplinary leave.

Clase and Ortiz are free on bail and have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges. Prosecutors allege they accepted thousands of dollars in bribes to help gamblers in their native Dominican Republic win at least $450,000 in bets based on the speed of their pitches and whether they would be balls or strikes.

'This agreement is not an admission of any wrongdoing by Clase or Ortiz,' MLB said in a statement Friday. '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.'

Clase was set to earn $6.4 million in 2026 as part of a five-year, $20 million extension signed in April 2022. Ortiz was due to earn $780,000, near the major league minimum.

Earlier this month, the federal trial scheduled for Clase and Ortiz in New York City was moved from May to November.

Clase, 28, is a two-time American League Reliever of the Year and a three-time All-Star. He has a 21-26 record with a 1.88 ERA and 182 saves over six seasons.

Ortiz, 27, was traded to Cleveland ahead of the 2025 season. He has a 4.05 ERA over 75 appearances (50 starts) spanning four major league seasons.

--Field Level Media

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