CLEVELAND (WJW) – Emmanuel Clase, an All-Star closer for the Cleveland Guardians, is on non-disciplinary paid leave amid an investigation into sports betting, the team confirmed in a statement.
“We have been informed that no additional players or Club personnel are expected to be impacted,” the team said in the statement. “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.”
The Athletic’s Zack Meisel reported on X that Clase is on leave until Aug. 31.
Clase, 27, was deemed the American League’s Reliever of the Year in 2022 and 2024 after joining Cleveland’s professional baseball team in 2021.
The 27-year-old Clase is 5-3 with 24 saves in 48 games this year, but he also has a career-high 3.23 ERA. The right-hander led the AL in saves in each of the previous three years and was speculated to be sought after in trades ahead of this week’s MLB trade deadline.
MLB declined further comment on Clase’s leave when contacted by the Associated Press.
News of the MLB putting Clase on leave comes after pitcher Luis Ortiz was also put on paid leave in the midst of a sports betting investigation.
The Ortiz investigation is related to in-game prop bets on two pitches thrown by the right-hander that received higher activity than usual during his starts at Seattle on June 15 and against St. Louis on June 27. The gambling activity on the pitches was flagged by a betting-integrity firm and forwarded to MLB.
