CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians have denied a request from closer Emmanuel Clase, who is being investigated by MLB for gambling, to pitch in Venezuela this winter.
This rejection follows a decision by the Dominican Republic winter league (LIDOM) not to allow Clase and Cleveland teammate Luis Ortiz to pitch in their native country. When Clase and Ortiz were put on non-disciplinary paid leave in July by MLB, with approval from the MLB Players Association, for gambling allegations, there were no restrictions on them pitching this winter in the Dominican Republic because they were born there.
However, if Clase or Ortiz tried to pitch winter ball in a country where they were not natives, they needed consent from the Guardians. MLB was contacted by Venezuela’s winter league earlier this week for permission to let Clase pitch for the Tiburones La Guaira. MLB contacted the Guardians and the Guardians did not give their consent.
Here are some of the reasons:
The investigation is still ongoing.The Guardians have not been in contact with Clase or Ortiz for months. They have no idea how much they’ve been throwing or training.If they are found innocent, why would they consent to have Clase pitch in Venezuela instead of getting ready for the 2026 season after missing so much time during the regular season and postseason? If Clase and Ortiz face discipline from Commissioner Rob Manfred — a lifetime ban is possible — why would the Guardians go out of their way to help either player? The Guardians had to pay their salaries through the full season while scrambling to replace them for the final three months and postseason — Ortiz was in the starting rotation and Clase was MLB’s best closer from 2022 through 2024.
Clase and Ortiz were training with the Estrellas Orientales when LIDOM rejected their request to play in the Dominican. They are suing the league and president Vitelio Mejia for the right to play.
Officially, Clase and Ortiz are no longer on paid leave because the regular season is over. Players get paid only between opening day and the end of the regular season. They are now on the restricted list, which means they do not count against the 40-man roster and in their specific case, they cannot be traded.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.