The Cleveland Guardians have placed All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase on administrative paid leave as part of Major League Baseball’s ongoing investigation into sports betting, as first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN. Clase is now the second Guardians pitcher tied to the investigation, following right-hander Luis Ortiz, who was placed on leave earlier this month.
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Clase has been a key piece in Cleveland’s bullpen this season, appearing in 48 games with a 3.23 ERA, and 24 saves, tied for fourth in the majors. The 26-year-old righty has consistently ranked among the game’s best relievers since debuting in 2019. His absence is a significant blow to a Guardians team fighting for an AL Wild Card spot.
“The Guardians have been notified by Major League Baseball that as part of their sports betting investigation Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave per an agreement with the Players Association,” the team stated Monday. “We have been informed that no additional players or Club personnel are expected to be impacted. The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time, and will respect the league’s confidential investigative process as we continue to fully cooperate.”
Clase will remain on leave through August 31, according to Passan.
Ortiz, 26, was placed on paid leave on July 3 after a betting integrity firm flagged suspicious activity surrounding two specific pitches he threw—one on June 15 against Seattle and another on June 27 against St. Louis. Both were sliders well off the plate that reportedly triggered unusual prop-bet payouts.
Clase’s placement on leave also comes just days before the MLB trade deadline, effectively removing him from any potential deals. The Guardians, who have been hovering around contention in the AL Wild Card picture, had not indicated they were actively shopping Clase, but multiple contenders were believed to be monitoring his situation in the event Cleveland made him available. The Mets, in particular, could be exploring late-inning bullpen upgrades to pair with Edwin Díaz, and Clase’s track record made him a potential dream target. With his status now up in the air, any serious trade interest has likely vanished.
