7 publishers · first seen Wed, 04 Nov 2026 20:04 UTC · updated Wed, 04 Nov 2026 22:38 UTC
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are facing a criminal fraud trial in New York, where they have been described as 'cheaters' by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Urquiola. The trial has highlighted the threat of gamblers to America's pastime. Urquiola stated that Clase, a former star closer, and Ortiz, a starter, have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges and are on non-disciplinary leave from the club without pay. Prosecutors claim that Clase began providing information about his pitches to bettors in 2023 and recruited Ortiz into the scheme in 2025. The defense argues that their clients are innocent and that a gambler who befriended Clase falsely claimed to other gamblers that the pitcher was providing inside information on his pitches and tried to sell them the information.
Clase, 28, is a three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year who had completed the fourth season of a $20 million, five-year contract when conspiracy and fraud charges against the pitchers were made public in November 2025.
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