Emmanuel Clase: Everything you need to know

Clase (personal) will remain on leave and is not permitted to report to spring training, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports. Both Clase and Luis L. Ortiz were placed on non-disciplinary paid leave last July amid allegations of sports gambling. The duo were then indicted in November related to an alleged scheme to rig bets on pitches thrown in MLB games. There remains no timeline for a resolution in each case.

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. 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 up to 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.