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Tucupita Marcano Under Investigation For Betting On Baseball

By Darragh McDonald | June 3, 2024 at 11:59pm CDT

Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano is under investigation by Major League Baseball for betting on baseball while a member of the Pirates, according to a report from Jared Diamond and Lindsey Adler of The Wall Street Journal. Marcano is facing a lifetime ban. Four other players are under investigation for betting on baseball while in the minor leagues as well, though the identities of those others are not known. The report adds that there’s no evidence at this point of games being manipulated.

Marcano, 24, was placed on the injured list by the Pirates in July of last year and eventually underwent surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The Padres claimed him off waivers in November and he has been on the injured list for all of 2024 so far, still recovering from that surgery.

Per the report from Diamond and Adler, Marcano “has been accused of betting on games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates last season while he was on the injured list for that team.” Per the report, the league and the MLB Players’ Association are still discussing Marcano’s ultimate punishment but, as mentioned, a lifetime ban is on the table. Marcano, the league and the union all declined to comment for the piece, though the Padres released a statement:

“We are aware of an active investigation by Major League Baseball regarding a matter that occurred when the player in question was a member of another organization and not affiliated with the San Diego Padres. We will not have any further comment until the investigative process has been completed.”

Brian Warecki, Pirates’ senior vice president of Communications, also issued a statement, relayed by Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on X. “We are aware of the matter that’s under investigation and are fully cooperating. We will refrain from further comment at this time.”

As relayed by the WSJ piece, the league’s gambling policy is prominently displayed in all clubhouses. Baseball players are legally allowed to bet on other sports but not on baseball. A player betting on teams other than his own faces a one-year suspension but betting on a game involving his own team results in a lifetime ban.

Gambling scandals have been around almost as long as baseball itself. Most famously, the “Black Sox Scandal” saw eight members of the 1919 White Sox were banned for life after being accused of taking bribes from gamblers to throw that year’s World Series. MLB’s all-time hits leader Pete Rose also received a lifetime ban in 1989 after accusations that he gambled on the Reds during his time as a player and manager.

More recently, gambling scandals have come back into the spotlight, thanks to a 2018 Supreme Court decision that opened the door for states to legalize the practice. Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, is in the process of pleading guilty to bank fraud and subscribing to a false tax return in relation to a gambling scandal. To this point, the evidence of that case suggests he didn’t bet on baseball. However, he did make bets with an illegal bookmaker in California, where sports betting is still illegal. He is alleged to have stolen millions of dollars from an account in Ohtani’s name in order to pay off his debts. David Fletcher of the Braves is also under investigation for placing bets with the same bookmaker as Mizuhara, though Fletcher isn’t accused of placing bets on baseball either. Gambling has also been an issue in other sports, with Jontay Porter receiving a ban from the NBA for gambling violations while playing for the Raptors.

Mizuhara and Fletcher both bet on other sports in a state where it’s illegal, while Mizuhara is also alleged to have committed several financial crimes. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred discussed those situations last month and said the league would be taking a hands-off approach until the legal process played out.

The Marcano situation would appear to be a different matter. If the accusations are proven to be true and he did indeed bet on the Pirates while a member of the team, it would appear to be a straightforward case where a lifetime ban will be the result. Further details on this case, and the cases of the other four players, will undoubtedly be forthcoming in the future.

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171 Comments

  1. bucsfan0004

    1 year ago

    Marcano’s talent level is about the same as Cole Tucker’s…. so if true, Indy is going to need another infielder

    1
    Reply
    • Spinning Wheel

      1 year ago

      I think Marcano is a member of the Friars’ farm system now.

      16
      Reply
      • Fever Pitch Guy

        1 year ago

        Spinning – It doesn’t matter. He got first post, that’s all that matters. Everyone else is last.

        3
        Reply
    • Card AG

      1 year ago

      He wasn’t even a pirate anymore dude

      4
      Reply
    • lesterdnightfly

      1 year ago

      RIF. Even in Pittsburgh.

      Reply
    • njbirdsfan

      1 year ago

      Pittsburgh wouldn’t do that.

      Apparently in California it’s an issue (Ohtani, cough)

      1
      Reply
      • Fever Pitch Guy

        1 year ago

        NJ – This really seems like MLB going after the little guys to make an example of them and “prove” they won’t tolerate illegal gambling or legal gambling on baseball. I find it very hard to believe at least some bigger name players aren’t doing the exact same thing as Marcano.

        And anybody who thinks Ohtani’s “interpreter” would place illegal sports bets but NOT on baseball is very naive. If you’re gonna take the risk of breaking a state law, you’re definitely gonna use inside information to maximize your profits. A lifetime ban from MLB is meaningless for a non-baseball career such as an interpreter.

        Only a MLB player would engage in illegal sports betting and still care about the additional repercussions of betting on baseball. .

        3
        Reply
    • MLB Top 100 Commenter

      1 year ago

      Marcano’s OPS of 63+ is enough to get him a lifetime ban.

      4
      Reply
    • TheMan 3

      1 year ago

      the article clearly states that he is a member of the Padres organization now being claimed off waivers by the Pirates

      It still amazes me that people make comments without actually reading the article first

      3
      Reply
      • oldgfan

        1 year ago

        But does it explain his weird bat sniffing ?

        2
        Reply
        • TheMan 3

          1 year ago

          Maybe he’s into hardened wood

          Reply
        • joblo

          1 year ago

          Nah, he’s channeling his inner Puig.

          Reply
        • TheMan 3

          1 year ago

          Puig kissed his bat, too? That’s what I was referencing, not his gambling

          Reply
      • User 3815330533

        1 year ago

        This transpired while he was here and on the injured list. Apparently he bet on Pirates games according to local reports

        Reply
        • TheMan 3

          1 year ago

          When you realize that you’ll never earn a multi million dollar salary as a major leaguer, this is probably his best chance at becoming wealthy

          Reply
    • nailz#4life

      1 year ago

      this guy idolizes Pete Rose so much, he just wants to follow in his footsteps

      Reply
  2. This one belongs to the Reds

    1 year ago

    You are going to see more of this since MLB HQ decided to get in bed with gambling.

    They should have seen it coming. The light at the end of the tunnel is a train.

    57
    Reply
    • RunDMC

      1 year ago

      I’m sure MLB is ok sacrificing the Tucupita Marcanos of MLB while harvesting the seed of their relationship with gamblers of America.

      In the words of the greatest unsung chicken roaster, “You gotta know when to hold ’em.”

      18
      Reply
      • Card AG

        1 year ago

        Another person just assuming something and passing it off as fact

        4
        Reply
        • RunDMC

          1 year ago

          You think Boston Market’s better? Pssh.

          6
          Reply
        • njbirdsfan

          1 year ago

          I’m pretty sure this entire country is based on believing X (you know, the I’m entitled to my beliefs line) and accusing others of crimes with zero evidence while complaining about witch hunts.

          8
          Reply
      • KP23

        1 year ago

        Kenny Rogers was a heck of a baseball player ironically

        14
        Reply
      • Dock_Elvis

        1 year ago

        Well, they darn sure got a major whiff of losing an Ohtani too. The gambling won’t know talent levels. And if there’s one consistency about baseball…it has to have a major scandal every generation or so.

        Reply
      • JoeBrady

        1 year ago

        Yup, in the olde days, before bookies were endorsed by the MLB, it was impossible to place a wager. Bookies and casinos didn’t exist.

        1
        Reply
    • YankeesBleacherCreature

      1 year ago

      They have and are actively enforcing their policies. The players agreed to and all have the choice to not gamble on baseball and risk jeopardizing their careers.

      10
      Reply
    • User 3815330533

      1 year ago

      Agreed. The worst thing that’s happened to sports is allowing gambling houses to not only get a foot in the door, but to act as sponsors, as well
      It’s funny that the concerns about the integrity of the game, as we heard during the Pete Rose gambling period, seems to have been long forgotten
      What happens when some bigger fish get caught?

      17
      Reply
      • Blackpink in the area

        1 year ago

        I agree it’s stupid that MLB has done a complete 180 on the subject of gambling. But it’s also stupid that a professional baseball player would bet on baseball. How do you not understand that’s a bad idea?

        11
        Reply
      • mrmet17

        1 year ago

        Bigger fish like Ohtani? They just brush that under the rug…

        19
        Reply
        • natsgm

          1 year ago

          I love the scenario where Ohtani actually did bet, which MLB absolutely cannot ban him for because of what he means to the current game, so they are then forced to remove the Rose ban and he gets into the HOF.

          5
          Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          1 year ago

          This scenario might occur in an alternate universe where reality is not the one we know in this universe. Keep looking and let us know when you get back.

          5
          Reply
        • NickTheDev

          1 year ago

          MLB doesn’t control the hall of fame you dumba**

          4
          Reply
        • JoeBrady

          1 year ago

          NickTheDev
          MLB doesn’t control the hall of fame you dumba**
          ===============================
          But they do control which players are suspended for life, If MLB removes the ban, that gives the HOF a lot of leeway.

          Reply
      • case

        1 year ago

        Well, players and organizations repeatedly cheat with little to no punishment, not sure how gambling is considered such a grievous breach of integrity compared to something like the Astros.

        1
        Reply
      • Dock_Elvis

        12 months ago

        They’re the games largest segment sponsor

        Reply
    • User 4245925809

      1 year ago

      That gets me also. We constantly see these draft kings commercials during mlb games, some parks have massive draft kings billboards at stadiums (fenway one). Why? Couldn’t be basic greed could it? Then turn around and ban a guy, whose career trajectory appears to mimic the ‘great” mario mendoza.

      More proof MLB and the game in general is pushing and taking cash from anyone it can, regardless of who it alienates, such as apple+ for a cpl games on friday night’s exclusive broadcast rights.

      16
      Reply
      • Mendoza Line 215

        1 year ago

        Mendoza was a fine shortstop who played nine years in MLB.He May not have been great but a relatively small % of players played that long.

        4
        Reply
        • CBeisbol

          1 year ago

          Mendoza

          He was, by the standards of MLB players, bad – below replacement level for his career.

          3
          Reply
        • whyhayzee

          1 year ago

          And yet he wasn’t replaced.

          5
          Reply
        • CBeisbol

          1 year ago

          whyhazee

          And? Does your statement have any purpose? If so, what is it? If not, why’d you make it?

          Reply
        • User 4245925809

          1 year ago

          Mendoza- If want to defend the history of an all glove and no bat player who played in the game, please pick one who could actually play a position as one of the best.. Such as all worldy mark belanger of Baltimore, not mario mendoza, who I also remember and really was.. In today’s terms a replacement level player whose saving grace was the ability to play all over the IF capably, not unworldy at 1 position (SS) like Belanger did and also? Not able to hit his weight.

          1
          Reply
        • Dumpster Divin Theo

          1 year ago

          Mario wasn’t too bad, he was at least able to maintain his hitting at the Mendoza line throughout his career.

          Reply
    • case

      1 year ago

      Moving forward with the lack of youth interest and modern streaming environment, gambling is probably the only way you’re going to get new fans to care about a 3 hour game with constant. fairly long breaks in the action.

      Reply
  3. Chuck from Uniontown

    1 year ago

    Ippei strikes again!

    18
    Reply
  4. alwaysgo4two

    1 year ago

    I’ll comment with the obvious. There goes his HOF chances.

    11
    Reply
    • Guard the Vogt

      1 year ago

      He might have a translator

      18
      Reply
    • Rally Goose

      1 year ago

      #gottem

      Reply
    • hiflew

      1 year ago

      He’ll always have his spot in the Great Name HOF though.

      4
      Reply
  5. jbwithro

    1 year ago

    At least he’s been doing SOMETHING!

    5
    Reply
  6. kellin

    1 year ago

    There’s a difference between legal and illegal gambling, and then there’s gambling on baseball – something that supposedly every baseball player knows. The bookie that Ippei and Fletcher used was illegal. Betting on baseball as a baseball player is illegal. Anything else that is legal won’t be scrutinized.

    1
    Reply
    • BlueSkies_LA

      1 year ago

      Betting on sports is perfectly legal in many states. Legal or otherwise, baseball players betting on baseball is a violation of MLB’s terms of employment. Breaking the rules, not breaking the law, is what gets a player banned for life. This distinction is totally lost on a lot of people, for some reason.

      6
      Reply
      • This one belongs to the Reds

        1 year ago

        I believe something may be lost on you.

        For DECADES, Major League Baseball avoided even a HINT of gambling. Now they are in bed with three online betting companies advertising out the wazoo on the field and during broadcasts, and a casino’s name on half the teams’ RSNs.

        5
        Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          1 year ago

          No, not lost on me at all. Just irrelevant to the point. I guess that might be lost on you — though how it could be is a mystery.

          2
          Reply
        • This one belongs to the Reds

          1 year ago

          If you think it’s irrelevant, you are obviously indeed lost. But many ignore facts that don’t fit their narrative.

          Reply
        • VegasMoved

          1 year ago

          Whether or not MLB partners with gambling websites has no bearing on MLB’s policy toward players betting on baseball games. Whether it’s wise for MLB to pursue those partnerships is debatable, but it is indeed irrelevant to their player conduct policy.

          3
          Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          1 year ago

          Nothing argued and nothing gained.

          Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          1 year ago

          I thought the point was simple and clear. Thank you for getting it, VegasMoved.

          Reply
        • Guard the Vogt

          1 year ago

          You are the one lost, reds. You changed the topic. What does what you said about MLB being in bed with casinos have to do with players gambling???

          I don’t think Blueskies necessarily disagrees with your point…I don’t, it is just irrelevant here.

          3
          Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          1 year ago

          FWIW, I hate that MLB is actively inviting fans to wager on the game but every player knows full well that it is forbidden for them to bet on it — and nearly all of them get it.

          2
          Reply
        • Tigers3232

          1 year ago

          @Reds It is still against State gaming laws and MLB rules foe players to bat on MLB games. That has in no way changed. The players should be embracing it and shunning anyone they believe to be gambling on the sport.

          The increase on revenue equates to higher player salaries.

          Reply
        • JoeBrady

          1 year ago

          it is indeed irrelevant to their player conduct policy.
          =============================
          It’s beyond irrelevant. I bet on BB as a kid, even before advertising. It was just as easy to go to local bookie.

          2
          Reply
        • This one belongs to the Reds

          1 year ago

          Maybe so, but this reminds me of when they used to hand free cigarettes out to soldiers. It didn’t force them to smoke, but made it a hell of a lot easier.

          2
          Reply
        • Tigers3232

          1 year ago

          They handed out cigarettes as smoking was allowed. How does that in any way correlate with something that is not allowed??

          Alcohol is sponsored and sold at NASCAR races. Are the drivers allowed to drive drunk whole racing??

          Reply
        • Guard the Vogt

          1 year ago

          Not the point Reds was trying to make, Tigers3232

          1
          Reply
        • Tigers3232

          1 year ago

          Wrll that’s the reality of the point he tried to make….

          Reply
        • Guard the Vogt

          1 year ago

          No it’s not. You’re still missing the point lol

          1
          Reply
  7. solaris602

    1 year ago

    Pirates have to be like, “Tucupita who? Oh, yeah, I think we met briefly once, but haven’t seen him around in a minute.”

    1
    Reply
    • Dumpster Divin Theo

      1 year ago

      Longer than a minute. This was last year

      Reply
  8. TJECK109

    1 year ago

    Marcano should have used his interpreter to place his bets. Then act like he had no clue millions disappeared

    17
    Reply
    • BlueSkies_LA

      1 year ago

      Sad. 🙁

      Reply
    • Big whiffa

      1 year ago

      Right !

      What hit me w the headline of this article is that I now assume ohtani was never even under an investigation. MLB is the king of hypocrisy

      1
      Reply
      • ATinz

        1 year ago

        Why would he be?

        1
        Reply
    • JoeBrady

      1 year ago

      LOL! I said the same thing, and I am sure many others have as well.

      “I don’t know what happened. My interpreter stole my personal data, impersonated me at the bank, and I haven’t looked at a single bank statement in 26 months”

      1
      Reply
      • Big whiffa

        1 year ago

        @ Joe, and don’t forget am I super star who has plays for the dodgers

        MLB to public – nothing to see here

        MLB in private- thank god we took full control over baseball media during the steroid era

        Reply
  9. Blackpink in the area

    1 year ago

    I am pretty open minded about the gambling issue but players should have enough sense to not bet on baseball if they play baseball professionally. Bet on football or basketball or soccer or anything else but no baseball.

    3
    Reply
    • MR. Q

      1 year ago

      When I was playing baseball in high-school, me and my teammates would bet on which mother our coach cheated with. Is that can be considered betting on baseball while being a member of that team?

      1
      Reply
      • Samuel

        1 year ago

        Ahhh,

        So you went to a government-run public school.

        4
        Reply
        • whyhayzee

          1 year ago

          Very few public schools are run by the government. And even then, not permanently.

          3
          Reply
        • Samuel

          1 year ago

          lol

          Sure.

          Most public schools have so much money that they don’t need to follow Dept of Education dictates in order to get federal funds each year.

          2
          Reply
        • User 3815330533

          1 year ago

          As someone who taught in inner city public schools for 30 years, you’ll have to excuse me laughing at your reply for a couple of reasons
          On one hand, obviously, inner city kids might as well be warehoused where politicians are concerned. Just keep them out of sight
          On the other, your comment about Dept of Education dictates hit home. If there is any entity completely out of touch with the needs of urban kids, it’s them and their “dictates”
          Ivory tower. Must be nice

          2
          Reply
        • User 3815330533

          1 year ago

          Disclaimer: I meant Dept of Ed officials and the ivory tower and not you, Samuel

          2
          Reply
        • JoeBrady

          1 year ago

          inner city kids might as well be warehoused where politicians are concerned.
          =======================
          I just had my reunion at my inner-city HS. It was phenomenal to tour the school, see the kids, and attend the graduation.

          It’s almost a sin to think that, for maybe $6,000, we could send another 1,500 kids there, instead of spending $24,000 to warehouse them.

          Reply
        • User 3815330533

          1 year ago

          While I congratulate you on graduating from an inner city district and returning for a reunion, Joe, you’ll have to excuse me. My area was English Lit and while I’m adept at reading for meaning and instructed as such, deciphering pretzel logic is often another matter
          But congrats again, and thanks

          Reply
        • JoeBrady

          1 year ago

          At my inner city school, if I didn’t understand someone’s point, I was encouraged to ask them to explain. Disregarding opinions as “pretzel logic”, simply because I didn’t understand the point, was discouraged.

          Of course, my area of math also is much more logical than English Lit.

          But the point being is that they can give kids a better education AND save money. It is the ultimate win/win.

          1
          Reply
  10. Rally Goose

    1 year ago

    Four other players under investigation? Hope it isn’t anyone good..

    2
    Reply
    • wkkortas

      1 year ago

      If they’re on the Pirates 40-man, we’re probably safe on that score.

      12
      Reply
    • stymeedone

      1 year ago

      Probably all have California ties. Soto, Trout, Mookie, and Judge. Nobody important. Lol

      Reply
    • NickTheDev

      1 year ago

      Well it said 4 other players that were in the minor leagues (last year)

      Reply
      • its_happening

        1 year ago

        On rehab assignment 🙂

        Reply
  11. 99socalfrc

    1 year ago

    No worries, I’m sure MLB will share with the public their findings, you know, like when they investigated Ohtani.

    9
    Reply
    • YankeesBleacherCreature

      1 year ago

      If you take off the tinfoil hat. it’s all there in the gov’t public records which has been linked countless times on every reputable site.

      5
      Reply
      • 99socalfrc

        1 year ago

        Gov’t records??? We are talking about MLB investigating. Which (they claim) they where doing regarding Ohtani. Then, nothing happened.

        The point is MLB always does their own investigation, independent of the gov’t. The gov’t didn’t ban Pete Rose and it didn’t suspend Trevor Bauer. MLB does that.

        1
        Reply
        • VegasMoved

          1 year ago

          Nothing happened because the government investigation is ongoing. MLB isn’t going to move on this until the legal process has played out, nor should they.

          2
          Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          1 year ago

          MLB can’t investigate alleged crimes, period, full stop. Not only does MLB lack the powers to conduct criminal investigations, any information they uncovered in a private investigation could compromise one conducted by law enforcement. So they simply never do it. We’ve seen this play out so many times before you have to wonder why this question keeps coming up.

          2
          Reply
        • ATinz

          1 year ago

          “Then nothing happened”. Hmm I wonder why that might be…. Because there’s nothing to investigate!!! Good God, some of you people are ignorant!

          Reply
        • JoeBrady

          1 year ago

          Nothing happened because the government investigation is ongoing
          ========================
          It’s over and buried. Except for Rose fans, no one has any interest in a real investigation. BB is more important than a victimless crime.

          Reply
      • Karensjer

        1 year ago

        It’s funny how MLB took a few months to ‘investigate’ a star from a big spending team like LA with Ohtani, but they are still investigating Franco with the Rays. Even if Franco somehow gets exonerated, it will have been a year, maybe even close to 2 since he played last, he’s going to be out of shape, and Tampa will have missed him this year, when he may have put them over the top and into the playoffs, and missed 1, maybe 2 prime seasons from him. God forbid it happen to a team like the Dodgers that actually spends money and the face of MLB in Ohtani. MLB and Manfraud have had it out for Tampa ever since he took office. Manfraud knew that with Justin Turners positive Covid test results during Game 6 of the 2020 World Series that they would have a sticky situation with a Rays win, and not wanting that, I think some kind of arrangement was made with Cash/Snell/maybe the Rays bullpen and MLB, and Cash pulled Snell, and LA scored the winning runs, ensuring no Game 7 and that Manfraud wouldn’t have had to make the decision of whether Turner (and possibly exposed teammates) could play in Game 7 or not. Manfraud also should’ve nixed any Rays stadium deal not located in Tampa. Studies show that most of a teams tickets are sold to people within a 50 mile radius of a ballpark. With St. Pete, half of the radius is in the Gulf of Mexico. The fish can’t buy tickets. Tampa is at least a little more inland. Manfraud knows this and will probably use this to make the Rays relocate. The only hope for the Rays with Manfraud running the show is for an owner who would spend to purchase the team and move to a stadium in Tampa or Orlando.

        Reply
        • YankeesBleacherCreature

          1 year ago

          Franco is still facing an open investigation in his native DR. Not MLB’s fault that DR is working at a slow pace.

          Reply
    • RoastGobot

      1 year ago

      Don’t worry it’s in government records. Government would never lie, said the imbecile

      9
      Reply
      • njbirdsfan

        1 year ago

        If Yankee says it didn’t happen, there you have it, case closed.

        2
        Reply
      • This one belongs to the Reds

        1 year ago

        Just as every financial institution has fraud monitoring and suspicious activity software and procedures. Any transaction over $10,000 triggers it and they contact the account owner, not the interpreter. So even if Ohtani did not do the deed, he had to know about it. Whether you believe he actually bet or just covered it up is up to your own beliefs.

        1
        Reply
  12. hiflew

    1 year ago

    This lifetime ban is brought to you by Draft Kings. Draft Kings, it’s not gambling, it just a fantasy that you pay for.

    23
    Reply
    • rememberthecoop

      1 year ago

      That was outstanding, @hiflew. The thought of mlb selling the rights to a lifetime ban is soo mlb. And to sell them to the gambling company that was used for the transgression is even funnier.

      2
      Reply
  13. Rally Goose

    1 year ago

    Padres calling up #5 prospect Adam Mazur to start tomorrow’s game against the Angels. Get that headline up!

    8
    Reply
  14. Rsox

    1 year ago

    Did Marcano have Ohtani’s interpreter too?

    4
    Reply
    • Dennis Boyd

      1 year ago

      Nope, he’s not a star

      Reply
  15. Niekro floater

    1 year ago

    “Not Tucupita !?”

    Reply
  16. Johnny utah

    1 year ago

    Mlb will investigate anyone for gambling
    Just not ohtani lol
    What a disgrace

    8
    Reply
    • NickTheDev

      1 year ago

      They *DID* investigate him… geez you are daft.

      4
      Reply
  17. Brew88

    1 year ago

    opens up a spot on the 40 man roster

    Reply
    • Herc33

      1 year ago

      I don’t really understand why he’s been occupying a 40 man spot this whole time. He’s been injured since spring training, could have gone to the 60 day IL back in March.

      SD needs a 40 man spot tomorrow for Mazur so we’ll see how they handle that soon enough

      Reply
      • Brew88

        1 year ago

        Gillaspie?

        Reply
  18. Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman

    1 year ago

    Must be looking further into Ohtani

    2
    Reply
    • BlueSkies_LA

      1 year ago

      For what? Dare I ask.

      1
      Reply
      • Judd_Skinner

        1 year ago

        Betting millions of dollars on baseball

        2
        Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          1 year ago

          Ah, I see. Stuff that never happened. Good thinking.

          3
          Reply
        • Judd_Skinner

          1 year ago

          Stuff that 100% happened. But of course, Neither the government nor the MLB would ever cover something up.

          1
          Reply
        • Brew88

          1 year ago

          And what if the little green men? bah! Gov has disguised them as Oakland Athletics but you and I know better…

          1
          Reply
  19. HiredGun23

    1 year ago

    If he did…be gone! If not, let him continue to rehab until he heals up and gets designated for assignment.

    Reply
  20. rjtfd

    1 year ago

    Wasn’t him it was his interpreter….

    1
    Reply
  21. st1300b

    1 year ago

    Yo no se tucapito!

    Reply
  22. CleaverGreene

    1 year ago

    And so it begins. Draft kings was the start of the end.

    1
    Reply
  23. Enrico Pallazzo

    1 year ago

    The main picture used for this in the mobile app is a hilarious choice. The snozzberries taste like snozzberries

    1
    Reply
  24. CC Ryder

    1 year ago

    It’s good to see that baseball is punishing everyone equally for gambling on the game and removing them from the American pastime. Well that is unless you’re a Japanese player who’s on the Los Angeles Dodgers and one of the stars of the game

    11
    Reply
    • BlueSkies_LA

      1 year ago

      Well, that’s a complete falsehood.

      5
      Reply
    • This one belongs to the Reds

      1 year ago

      Ohtani was ok though because he called the 1-800-GAMBLER number in the advertisement’s disclaimer and let his interpreter talk to them.

      1
      Reply
      • BlueSkies_LA

        1 year ago

        🙁 🙁

        Reply
  25. Chemo850

    1 year ago

    This is only being enforced because it’s not a big name. Wait until Judge or Trout or another big name gets caught up in gambling and you’ll see how MLB quickly changes their tune

    4
    Reply
    • Armaments216

      1 year ago

      Mike, Aaron, meh. They’re coming down hard on big names. Like Tucupita.

      Reply
  26. JoeBrady

    1 year ago

    He’s Venezuelan, so I would just ask one of my friends to say he was his interpreter and was placing bets using his account.

    1
    Reply
  27. sad tormented neglected mariners fan

    1 year ago

    I’m glad MLB is strict on betting even though Pete rose might be a little too strict at this point

    Reply
    • BlueSkies_LA

      1 year ago

      Rose not only bet on baseball, he bet on his own teams. He denied it for years until finally admitting that he had. Then he tried to justify himself by claiming that he never bet on his own teams to lose, as if that many any difference. Rose was one of the greatest ballplayers of his generation, but a man with some serious character defects. He was banned for good cause.

      7
      Reply
    • fred-3

      1 year ago

      I don’t know why people keeping bringing up Pete Rose. He bet against his team as the manager. That’s as bad as it gets.

      2
      Reply
      • BlueSkies_LA

        1 year ago

        He claims to never have bet against his own teams, but of course whether this is true or not makes no difference. Lots of people are way deep into their grievances these days, to where it’s more important to choose a side and stick to it than to look at facts and let them dictate what you believe. So Rose becomes a sort of folk hero or martyr, and the reality of what he did simply does not figure into whether it makes any sense to think of him that way.

        4
        Reply
        • fred-3

          1 year ago

          Rose is complete scum. Bet on the game as a player, manger, and had a relationship with 14 year when he was in his 30s. Just an all-around awful human being.

          4
          Reply
        • sad tormented neglected mariners fan

          1 year ago

          I believe while he deserved to get the ban from baseball, does he still deserve it has an 80 year old man? Reasonable people could argue about putting him in the hall of fame or keeping him out

          Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          1 year ago

          I’m curious about the reasonable argument for reversing his lifetime ban. Have the circumstances changed? Has he ever shown any remorse for the stuff he did, or the lies he told about it for so long? If he wants to be remembered differently as a person, it’s incumbent on the man to give us a reason. So far he’s just been stubborn and unrepentant.

          3
          Reply
        • User 3815330533

          1 year ago

          I’m going to save the old argument that half the guys in the Hall were either scumbags or had a closet full of skeletons to justify Rose. Guy was a tremendous player. I’ll stop there
          What bothers me about sports books being “legitimized” via sponsorships in all professional and tacitly at least where the NCAA is concerned is that the door is open to manipulating the “integrity” of games. How naive must one be to believe that a player who isn’t already a multi millionaire sees some benefit in influencing an outcome?
          To me, the shortsightedness of sports entities to allow this in favor of greed is remarkable
          For every Marcano, there are countless others likely doing the same thing. Beyond merely betting, where is the floor here?

          3
          Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          1 year ago

          You could have saved all of those arguments. It isn’t easy to get yourself on the disqualified list but some really work hard at it and succeed.

          1
          Reply
        • This one belongs to the Reds

          1 year ago

          I have pretty much said the same about Rose. He approached it all wrong from the start.

          If he just said he did it, was remorseful, and threw himself on their mercy, he would have been better off. America loves a good comeback story.

          1
          Reply
        • YankeesBleacherCreature

          1 year ago

          @This one It’s that simple. Rose would be in. I read his book. He even admitted that it may be too late.

          Remember when Andy Pettitte used HGH to recover from injury? He was let off the hook easily. In contrast to Clemens’ hard stance.

          1
          Reply
        • BlueSkies_LA

          1 year ago

          Everybody makes mistakes in their lives. Character comes from what you do with that information.

          3
          Reply
        • StusFirstDollar

          1 year ago

          Remember when Pete Rose hooked up with a minor? Yeah

          1
          Reply
  28. teufelshunde4

    1 year ago

    Sports leagues getting into bed with online sports betting, was a recipe for disaster. But the greed is strong.

    5
    Reply
    • JoeBrady

      1 year ago

      The implication being that, if on-line bookies didn’t advertise with MLB, then none of their players would gamble?

      1
      Reply
  29. Johnny utah

    1 year ago

    Guys guys guys
    You got it all wrong
    Slow down
    Please
    A man’s reputation is at stake here
    And his career
    And his livelihood
    Tucupita never gambled
    Nah
    It was his espanol interpreter who did all the betting!

    2
    Reply
  30. wefwewefwe

    1 year ago

    Ohtani’s bookie at it again.

    Reply
  31. Silas

    1 year ago

    NO BETTING ON BASEBALL!!

    Gambling Sponsors; “Hey lookie here”
    “MoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyvMoneyvMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyvMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyvMoneyvMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoneyMoney”

    It’s all that seems to matter anymore whether it’s corporations, politicians, Cable Companies, pharmaceutical co’s
    sad……

    1
    Reply
  32. Macbeth

    1 year ago

    What about Ohtani?

    /s

    1
    Reply
  33. Jerry Hairston Jr's Toupee

    1 year ago

    * insert interpreter joke here *

    Reply
  34. VegasMoved

    1 year ago

    All these Ohtani comments, I swear it’s like you guys stopped paying attention after that first report. Do you guys still think Ohtani signed with the Blue Jays?

    3
    Reply
  35. swissvale

    1 year ago

    So if they found out a player drank a half a bottle of Jack before coming out to pitch we could blame it on MLB having alcohol advertisements

    Not their fault – if they didn’t want players to drink they wouldn’t take the money

    1
    Reply
    • aragon

      1 year ago

      Babe Ruth was rumored to have played while drunk

      1
      Reply
  36. 66TheNumberOfTheBest

    1 year ago

    “Why does the league care so much about players doing pretty much the only thing that can destroy a pro sports league???”

    2
    Reply
  37. DraytonSawyer

    1 year ago

    Still one of the best names in baseball. For now anyways.

    Reply
    • DeepDownSouth

      1 year ago

      Even better than “Shoeless” Joe Jackson?
      C’mon man, says the destroyer of America

      3
      Reply
  38. Rally Goose

    1 year ago

    “You’re the fall guy, Ippei. You’re the guy they come to when no one else will stand up and take their medicine. And they come to you because you never make them stand up and take it.”

    1
    Reply
  39. Niekro floater

    1 year ago

    Mlb set a bad precedent by letn stros players, who divised the trash can system, get away scotfree. Now they’re gonna find cpl AAAA guys to sacrifice to show the league is on top of it. Talking lifetime bands. Gambling can be a disease for some, why do u bet on your own team when u have everything to lose ? It’s a small concession to make to have opportunity to play kids game for real money, just don’t bet on anything n u get to keep living the dream. If Ippei is snitch who named all these players, wouldn’t want to be him in general population.

    1
    Reply
  40. LosPobres1904

    1 year ago

    Who the fudge is this guy?

    Reply
    • LordD99

      1 year ago

      Someone who is going to be suspended for life as an example. The fact he’s barely known all the better. An example without consequences to the game.

      2
      Reply
  41. James Midway

    1 year ago

    MLB brought to you by Draft Kings and Bet MGM.

    2
    Reply
  42. Logjammer D"Baggagecling

    1 year ago

    Best thing I can respond with is a description of a gif.
    Wedding Crashers Will Ferrell with Owen Wilson “what an idiot”

    He’s gonna be eating a lot of microwaveable meatloaf.

    Reply
  43. LordD99

    1 year ago

    The gambling issue with MLB players is only going to get worse.

    7
    Reply
  44. hiflew

    1 year ago

    Somehow I don’t think “Say it ain’t so, Tucupita.” is ever going to catch on the same way as “Say it ain’t so, Joe.”

    2
    Reply
  45. Buccoprojectory

    1 year ago

    I’d bet against the pirates myself, as long as Skelton is the manager.

    2
    Reply
  46. Mikenmn

    1 year ago

    Some of these guys are going to gamble. As are some in the front office. It’s going to happen under any circumstances, but MLB is going all in on the connections between the game and gambling interests because there’s so much money, and owners are not the type of people who leave money on the table. “Sonny, it’s business” and let’s not expect better. If the player here did do the forbidden, he needs to be banned. But MLB ought to be thinking about the implications of that, and not just how much Las Vegas, etc. is willing to shell out.

    2
    Reply
  47. Old York

    1 year ago

    I hope we find out if they made or lost money.

    1
    Reply
  48. drewm

    1 year ago

    This article is brought to you by DraftKings

    4
    Reply
  49. 28rings

    1 year ago

    he should have gotten a translator

    2
    Reply
  50. DeepDownSouth

    1 year ago

    Who?

    Reply
  51. Scrap Iron

    1 year ago

    This isn’t a new problem for MLB, it’s it’s going to become the new norm now that the moron in charge leaned into gambling for the sport.

    4
    Reply
  52. AL B DAMNED

    1 year ago

    Permanently banned from MLB, Just Announced..4 other players received 1 year bans!

    Reply

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