Pitch-Rigging Scandal: MLB Players On Unpaid Leave

Guardians' Clase, Ortiz On unpaid leave amid MLB probe

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase placed on unpaid leave due to federal pitch-rigging charges...

MLB places Ortiz and Clase on unpaid leave after indictment for allegedly rigging pitches to aid gamblers...

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase are going on unpaid leave due to pitch-rigging charges. They were previously on paid non-disciplinary leave after being investigated for allegedly rigging pitches to benefit gamblers.

The two pitchers, both from the Dominican Republic, were indicted on federal conspiracy charges in November and have pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors claim they accepted thousands of dollars in bribes to help gamblers win at least $450,000 in bets based on pitch speed and location.

Emmanuel Clase, a two-time American League Reliever of the Year, was set to earn $6.4 million in 2026, while Luis Ortiz was due to earn around $780,000, near the major league minimum. Their trial has been moved to November.

Two players pleaded not guilty to helping gamblers win wets based on pitch types and speeds.

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Thanks to an agreement between MLB and the players' union, the Guardians won't have to keep paying Clase and Ortiz during the upcoming season, which kicks off next week.

“As the legal proceedings involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz continue to move forward, MLB and the MLBPA have agreed that both players will remain on non-disciplinary leave from the club without pay until further notice,” Major League Baseball said in a statement.

“This agreement is not an admission of any wrongdoing by Clase or Ortiz. 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.”