Two Cleveland Guardians are in hot water.
In early July, Major League Baseball placed Luis Ortiz on non-disciplinary paid leave due to an investigation into potential gambling charges. Toward the end of July, teammate Emmanuel Clase was also placed on non-disciplinary paid leave. Neither pitcher threw another pitch in 2025 as the Guardians did the improbable and made the postseason. On Nov. 9, multiple sources reported that both players have been charged and could face 65 years in prison if convicted. Their charges include wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sports contests by bribery, and other charges.
The scheme was simple; bettors placed a bet on whether their first pitch would be a strike or a ball. Clase allegedly has been involved in the scheme since May 2023 and earned the bettors over $400,000. Ortiz joined the scheme in June of this year.
On Nov. 10, David Payne Purdum of ESPN reported that some sportsbooks in the United States have capped out prop bets at $200 and removed the ability to include them in parlays.
It’s safe to say that if either player is convicted of any of the charges, their MLB career has come to an end, on top of the potential prison time they’ll serve. There have been numerous gambling scandals dating back to the late 1870s. The two most notable cases involve the infamous 1919 Chicago White Sox and Pete Rose during the 1980s. All nine players involved in those two scandals were banned from MLB.
Essentially, these two players allegedly threw away millions for a few extra thousand dollars. Clase’s case in particular is shocking, as he has been one of the best closers in the big leagues since joining the league in 2021. Clase was set to become a free agent after the 2028 season.
The investigation is ongoing, and it will be a while before everything is solved.
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