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
Get a daily dose of South America Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to South America Times.
More InformationIn a move that has sparked global outrage, the Islamic Republic of Iran has executed 19-year-old champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: A week after U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth questioned the appointment of Kari Lake to lead the...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Two days after President Donald Trump called a federal judge who ruled against the administration wacky, nasty, crooked,...
KHIRBET HUMSA, West Bank - Dozens of masked Israeli settlers stormed into Qusai Abu al-Kebash's small village last weekend in the middle...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: A man who spent nearly twenty years in prison for a roughly US$550 robbery that he did not commit was exonerated...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The board of directors of the Kennedy Center voted on March 16 to shut down operations for two years following this...
(Photo credit: David Banks-Imagn Images) Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were transferred to unpaid non-disciplinary...
Lisbon [Portugal], March 20 (ANI): Legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo missed out due to a muscle injury, while Manchester City star...
BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday expressed serious concerns over Mexico's possible economic security review of Chinese...
Amsterdam [Netherlands], March 20 (ANI): The Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman on Friday unveiled a 26-member squad for their side's...
Rome [Italy], March 20 (ANI): The Italian squad for the FIFA World Cup playoffs was unveiled on Friday. The squad features a total...
(Photo credit: REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed) Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has been left off the team's squad for friendly matches...
