Guardians pitchers indicted on slew of sports betting charges

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz had been on indefinite administrative leave as Major League Baseball investigated allegations of sports gambling. That investigation may now be the least of their concerns.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that Clase and Ortiz have been indicted in Brooklyn on a slew of charges related to a scheme to rig wagers on specific pitches thrown during a major league game. Ortiz was taken into custody in Boston on Sunday, while Clase has yet to be taken into custody. Both pitchers face up to 65 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

Zack Meisel of The Athletic reported that the scheme began in approximately May 2023 for Clase and in June 2025 for Ortiz. Clase caused the alleged co-conspirators to win at least $400,000, while Ortiz caused bettors to win at least $60,000.

Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz may have literally thrown their careers away

Passan further reported that the allegations refer to a specific pitch on June 15, claiming that Ortiz intentionally threw a ball. The same scenario played out on June 27, with Ortiz again throwing an intentional ball. The two pitchers allegedly received a total of $12,000 for both instances. 

Regardless of whether or not Clase and Ortiz are convicted, it is likely that their careers are over. The taint of those allegations will follow both pitchers throughout their lives, making it impossible for other teams to trust Clase and/or Ortiz. A lifetime ban from Major League Baseball is also a distinct possibility, even if both pitchers are acquitted.

In the end, Clase and Ortiz threw their careers away for relative peanuts. Clase had been due to receive $6.4M in 2026, with Cleveland holding a pair of $10M team options for 2027 and 2028. He would have become a free agent at 30 years old and would have been highly sought after on the open market. The 26-year-old Ortiz, meanwhile, had one more season before arbitration and the beginning of a significant payday. 

It is also fair to wonder how much the bombardment of sports gambling impacted these decisions. Professional sports have cozied up to legalized gambling over the years, with advertisements during games and gambling kiosks in stadiums. Clase and Ortiz may only be the tip of the iceberg as sports gambling becomes more entwined with professional sports.