One of the biggest chips on the MLB trade market is being placed on paid leave just days before the deadline. All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave on Monday in connection with an MLB sports betting investigation, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. He will be on leave through Aug. 31, per The Athletic’s Zack Meisel.
The Guardians confirmed the news in a statement. The team was told that “no additional players or club personnel are expected to be impacted.”
The team added that it will not comment further on the situation and will allow MLB to carry out its investigation.
Clase is the second Guardians pitcher to be placed on paid leave while MLB looks into this gambling matter. Starter Luis Ortiz was put on paid leave in early July after suspicious bets were reportedly placed based on his performance.
Ortiz reportedly came under fire after two of his pitches were flagged for suspicious betting activity. An unusual amount of action was placed on Ortiz opening an inning by either throwing a ball or hitting a batter in two separate games. In both instances, Ortiz started those innings by throwing pitches nowhere near the strike zone.
It’s unclear what MLB found during its investigation that resulted in Clase being placed on leave as well.
If Clase or Ortiz is found by MLB to have violated league rules, they could face a wide range of possible punishment. The league banned former infielder Tucupita Marcano for life in 2024 after he reportedly bet on his own team while injured. Other players who bet on baseball, but not on their own teams, were banned for a year.
Under MLB rules, players are not allowed to bet on baseball or softball but can bet on other sports.
The Guardians have not lived up to expectations this season. After winning the American League Central with a 92-69 record last season, the team sits at 52-53 entering play Monday.
Clase — one of the game’s best closers — pitched well this season, posting a 3.23 ERA and 24 saves over 47 1/3 innings. He was thought to be one of the premier names available at the trade deadline, meaning Monday’s news significantly alters the landscape of the deadline as a whole.
