The Cleveland Guardians, a team with a storied history and a passionate fanbase, now find themselves at the center of a federal legal drama involving two of their most prominent pitchers. Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both key arms for the Guardians, are set to stand trial in May 2026 on serious federal charges alleging that they accepted bribes to influence the outcome of baseball games for the benefit of gamblers in their native Dominican Republic. It’s a story that has sent shockwaves through the Major League Baseball (MLB) community, raising questions about integrity, player conduct, and the broader implications for professional sports.
The announcement came on December 2, 2025, when U.S. District Court Judge Kiyo Matsumoto confirmed that jury selection would tentatively begin on May 4, 2026, in Brooklyn federal court. The trial itself is expected to commence the following week or possibly sooner, with both the prosecution and defense estimating it could last about two weeks. During a brief hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Sherman indicated that prosecutors had already begun sharing hundreds of gigabytes of electronic evidence with defense teams, underscoring the complexity of the case. "Both sides have been in discussions since the pitchers were arrested last month, but have not yet talked about a possible plea deal in the case to avoid trial," Sherman noted in court.
The charges against Clase and Ortiz are both grave and unprecedented in recent MLB history. Both players stand accused of wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery. According to prosecutors, the two accepted thousands of dollars in bribes, helping two unnamed gamblers win at least $460,000 by providing insider information on the speed and outcome of their pitches. The government alleges that Clase, the Guardians’ star closer, began collaborating with the bettors as early as 2023 and later brought Ortiz into the scheme in 2025.
The legal saga began to unfold publicly in November 2025. Ortiz was indicted on November 9 and promptly pled not guilty the following day. Clase, meanwhile, was arrested on November 13 at JFK Airport in New York after initially being unavailable to law enforcement. He, too, pled not guilty and, like Ortiz, was released on bond. The two pitchers and their legal representatives have consistently declined to offer public comment following their court appearances, maintaining their innocence as the case proceeds through the legal system. Ortiz’s lawyer has asserted that any payments between his client and individuals in the Dominican Republic were for legitimate, legal activities—not illicit payoffs to influence games.
Both players have been on nondisciplinary paid leave since MLB began investigating unusual in-game betting activity during their pitching appearances in July 2025. Ortiz was placed on leave July 3, while Clase followed on July 18, effectively ending both of their seasons. The MLB investigation, which initially centered on irregular betting patterns, quickly escalated as federal authorities became involved. The league’s swift action to sideline the pitchers highlighted its commitment to upholding the sport’s integrity, but the scandal has nonetheless cast a long shadow over the Guardians’ organization.
Emmanuel Clase, at 27 years old, is no stranger to the spotlight. He’s a three-time All-Star and a two-time American League Reliever of the Year, boasting a stellar 1.88 ERA and 182 saves over six MLB seasons—the last five spent in Cleveland. Currently in the fourth year of a $20 million, five-year contract, Clase’s on-field achievements have made him one of the league’s premier closers. His sudden fall from grace has stunned fans and analysts alike, who had come to see him as a cornerstone of the Guardians’ bullpen.
Luis Ortiz, 26, joined the Guardians ahead of the 2025 season after a trade and quickly established himself as a reliable starting pitcher. With a career 4.05 ERA over 75 appearances, including 50 starts, across four major league seasons, Ortiz earned a $782,600 salary in 2025. While perhaps less decorated than Clase, Ortiz’s role in the Guardians’ rotation was nonetheless significant, and his alleged involvement in the scandal has only deepened the team’s woes.
The specific allegations paint a troubling picture: prosecutors say that the two pitchers conspired to manipulate the speed and outcome of their pitches, providing information to gamblers who then used that data to place highly targeted prop bets. The sums at stake were anything but trivial, with the two unnamed bettors reportedly netting at least $460,000 through their illicit activities. The prosecution’s case is built on a trove of digital evidence, including files from electronic devices seized during the investigation.
Despite the gravity of the charges, both Clase and Ortiz have maintained their innocence. Ortiz’s legal team, in particular, has pushed back against the prosecution’s narrative, insisting that the financial transactions in question were above board. No plea deals have been discussed as of yet, and the defense appears ready to contest the charges vigorously in court. Their next scheduled court appearance is set for January 15, 2026, where further pretrial motions and discussions are expected to take place.
The Guardians, meanwhile, are preparing for a season shrouded in uncertainty. Spring training is set to begin in February 2026, with the team’s home opener scheduled for April 3. With two of their top pitchers sidelined and facing possible prison time, the organization faces not only on-field challenges but also the daunting task of restoring its reputation. The case has reignited conversations around betting in sports, the vulnerabilities of professional athletes, and the ongoing efforts to safeguard the integrity of the game.
As the trial date approaches, the spotlight will remain firmly fixed on Brooklyn federal court, where the fates of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz—and perhaps, by extension, the Guardians’ 2026 season—hang in the balance. The outcome is far from certain, with both sides gearing up for what promises to be a closely watched legal battle. For now, all eyes in the baseball world are on Cleveland and New York, waiting to see how this high-stakes drama will unfold.
