The Cleveland Guardians have placed All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of MLB’s sports-betting investigation.
ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan first reported the news. It comes after Luis Ortiz was also placed on non-disciplinary paid leave over sports gambling.
“BREAKING: Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of MLB’s sports-betting investigation, sources tell ESPN. Clase is the second Guardians pitcher on leave tied to the investigation, joining right-hander Luis Ortiz. Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase’s non-disciplinary paid leave is through Aug. 31, MLB said in a statement,” Passan wrote on X.
What exactly Clase did is uncertain. But, Clase being placed on leave will rule the reliever out from being a trade option ahead of the deadline on July 31.
Clase is a three-time MLB All-Star from 2022 to 2024 with the Guardians. He’s also a three-time AL saves leader and two-time AL Reliever of the Year. Clase is 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA in 48 games and is 24-for-29 on saves.
The 27-year-old right-hander is in the midst of a five-year, $20 million deal. There are also two $10 million club options in 2027 and 2028.
Guardians’ Clase Was a Potential Trade Candidate
Clase’s suspension comes just days before the July 31 trade deadline.
Although the star reliever can be under team control through 2028, his name has come up in trade talks. Several teams were interested in him, however, MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today says Cleveland didn’t plan to trade him.
“The Cleveland Guardians are telling teams they plan to keep closer Emmanuel Clase, who still is under team control through 2028. He’s eligible for salary arbitration one final time in 2026. And has club options for $10 million in 2027 and 2028,” Nightengale wrote.
Clase was having a down season after being in the running for the AL Cy Young last season as a reliever. He went 4-2 with a 0.61 ERA in 74.1 innings, going 47-for-50 on saves.
MLB Commissioner Comments on Guardians’ Ortiz’s Leave
Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave over a gambling probe as a sportsbook reported suspicious betting on the first pitches thrown by Ortiz in select innings against the Seattle Mariners on June 15 and against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 27.
The sportsbooks saw a spike in bets for Ortiz’s first pitch in the second inning against the Mariners to be a ball. As well as the first pitch at the top of the third inning against the Cardinals to be a ball. Both pitches were nowhere near the zone.
After the gambling probe, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred spoke about it and admitted he was concerned that you can bet on certain pitches.
“There are certain types of bets that strike me as unnecessary and particularly vulnerable,” Manfred said. “I know there was a lot of sports betting. Tons of it that went on illegally and we had no idea. No idea what threats there were to the integrity of the play because it was all not transparent. I firmly believe that the transparency and monitoring that we have in place now. As a result of the legalization and the partnerships that we’ve made, puts us in a better position to protect baseball than we were in before.”
Ortiz and Clase are now suspended through Aug. 31.
Guardians All-Star Closer Placed on Paid-Leave Amidst Gambling Probe