Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted by prosecutors in Brooklyn on charges involving sports betting, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN, among others. Ortiz was arrested earlier today. Clase is not currently in custody.
Clase and Ortiz are charged with “wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy, for their alleged roles in a scheme to rig bets on pitches thrown” according to the Department of Justice, relayed by Zack Meisel of The Athletic. The indictment details an alleged scheme that involves the pitchers purposely throwing balls so gamblers could bet on pitches being balls or strikes. It began as early as May 2023 with Clase, according to the indictment.
The allegations from prosecutors in the indictment include a specific incident on June 15, when Ortiz was paid $5K for throwing an intentional ball, and Clase received $5K for facilitating it. Co-conspirators won at least $400K on fraudulent wagers relating to Clase and at least $60K on fraudulent wagers relating to Ortiz, prosecutors allege in the indictment. Clase and Ortiz face up to 65 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
“MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process. We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing,” the league said in a statement to ESPN.
Man clase had a shot at getting high up the all-time saves leaderboard, really sad to see a great baseball career end so early
He also stood to make a lot of money in free agency next year. Talk about not seeing the big picture
Too bad Ohtani did not get his charges to stick instead of too his patsy interpreter.
They’d never nail Ohtani look at what they’re doing now with him. And highest rated series in ages. No way mlb would ever let an actual investigation into him happen
Where is the evidence? I haven’t seen any linking Ohtani to betting himself and none of the interpreter’s bets were on baseball. So hardly the same thing.
The highest rated internationally
People like their little conspiracy theory that Mizuhara took the fall for bets that Ohtani actually stood to make money from.
I would guess the evidence is not there because even the league cannot stop federal prosecutors. This is the Pandora’s box created by getting into bed with gambling. Unfortunately, an addiction doesn’t look at a bank account. Sadly, there will be more to come.
is it addiction or greed?
We are living in the golden age of greed.
Can’t let it go, can you? Damn the inside of your head must be quite a sight with wild conspiracies fighting for your attention.
Addiction for some, actually winning carries little to no satisfaction.
In actuality it could be either/or or it could be both.
Here, this ought to fix it:
If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem, you can call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 for confidential support and resources. This helpline is available 24/7 to help individuals and their families address gambling-related issues.
Conspiracy Theorists have a better track record than the 1906 Cubs
If I remember correctly, the CT’s did have a pretty solid starting eight with a reliable bullpen.
Ohtani is not alleged to have committed a crime.
He wasn’t charged with betting; he was charged with fixing bets. That’s not an addiction.
Wild Conspiracies
Much like our federal government
Too bad you have nothing to do but spout BS racist conspiracy theories on the internet on a Sunday afternoon.
Would you assume mountains were moved to conceal such evidence? Mind you, we live in a society that still conceals pedophilia all the way to the top of our government. We’re told what we’re allowed to hear.
@Ronk325
He wasn’t a free agent next year.
Has Clase sadly left a lot of money on the table by grabbing guaranteed money early and getting involved with questionable investment schemes, sure, but he looks even more pathetic when you realize how small his gambling related “earnings” are compared to his current baseball-related wages and what he stood to gain in the future. He probably looked around and felt he wasn’t making as much as he should and tried making up for it.
Let’s face it; he’s from a poor place, is uneducated, got lousy advice and counsel, and lacked any perspective whatsoever. None of which is unusual for athletes in his circumstances.
Sad-totally self-inflicted. Would’ve been fun to see how far he could’ve got in his career but allegedly he chose this path.
Not sad at all. Grown man tried to cheat people, the game, and you, the fan. Throw the book at this bum.
Agree in part Slowcurve. Let it first play out in court and judge each case separately.
65 years for sports betting is outrageously extreme imo
65 years is just the start of negotiations. Eventually they’ll plead some of the charges & get a smaller sentence, etc.
Yes we all know that Cleveland but it’s still an outrageous starting point. As Vegas fan stated, I also know people who’ve been convicted of much worse than being paid to throw a few errant baseballs and gotten little to no time
Slow-Nobody uses books anymore. They’ll have to throw an iPad at him.
All the books have been burned or banished, along with the libraries and schools that housed them. Easier for billionaires to control the masses that way
Up to 65 years? I know someone convicted of 32 felonies that served no time.
No trial?
Ban him
Again – no trial? Now it is true MLB doesn’t need a conviction to ban him.
Whoa, that’s what happens when you’re in bed with gambling.
In previous eras this would have happened without being discovered. Legalized gambling is just exposing things that happened more often when organized crime controlled gambling.
Acting like gambling crimes started recently is creating this mess is baffling.
Yeah, I hate how in bed these leagues are with gambling, but the connection has nothing to do with this. If anything, it actually should PREVENT things like this, because the gambling companies in particular don’t want this to happen.
The gambling companies don’t want players to cheat because it costs them money. That said, they use AI and all means available to get patrons to bet more and more. At least online they can’t serve you alcohol so you’ll end up getting more than you might otherwise have. I never understood why free drinks are allowed to be served in gambling establishments.
@HalosHeaven Acting like people are upset about it happening not the very predictable proliferation is baffling. What makes you say people are acting like these are ‘recently created’?
The comment states this happened because MLB accepts gambling sponsorship money.
MLB started accepting that money recently.
Pretty simple.
Might’ve well said people in California smoke weed now that it’s legal.
You’re 100 percent correct. No room in organized professional sports to have a working relationship with gambling
Amen! But the rich Suits at the top only care about the paycheck. None (zero. zilch. nada) of them give a rip about the sport itself.
That’s silly. Bud light is the official sponsor of the NFL and that doesn’t make people drink it. Grown men made grown men decisions period. Taking gambling money as a sponsor doesn’t make the players gamble on the sport. They were doing it before sponsorship. Search Rose, Pete….
Apparently there is when the league is making a $hit ton of money from it.
Youre saying this happened more often when organized crime was in charge and accusing randoms of acting like that wasnt the case. And youre comparing that to another thing nobody has ever said by bringing up weed and California. So many strawman arguments…and Im not even sure what your point is. Can you please explain what youre trying to say?
No that’s what happens when you are stupid and greedy and can’t do math. Earning $10k while risking millions of dollars??
Reminder:
Clase and Luis Ortiz actually gambled.
Ohtani didn’t gamble; his interpreter did.
No conspiracy, no agenda, no Japanese bias. Quit your hating.
Allegedly.
Innocence is assumed, not guilt. We have to prove guilt.
Legally
As it should be
The court of public opinion does not have to assume innocence
You don’t even have to assume that the courts know more than you
Also. Reminder: indicted DOES NOT mean “guilty”
Ohtani is a powerful man, every powerful man has probably done something unethical, just look at guys like Michael Jordan or Tom Brady
I thought Steve ballmer was an exception of a rich guy that never did anything wrong but now he’s in a clippers scandal
Every person has probably done something unethical
Doesn’t mean everyone is guilty of any crime
Yes, but the person used the word “allegedly” which is commonly used in law. Sure it isnt always, but since it’s in reference to a legal issue, it seemed a place to state what I did.
No PERSON has to assume innocence. It’s simply a more fare position to keep since public opinion is such a fickle, motivated and prejudiced court.
It sounds like you just now learned who Steve Ballmer is. This isn’t anywhere near his first controversy
And convicted DOES mean “Guilty.”
fair
genre
“And convicted DOES mean “Guilty.””
Who was convicted? Of what?
Cynicism and stupidity. A marriage made in heaven.
No, not allegedly. Factually. You may not be familiar with the concept.
I don’t hate Ohtani, I hate the Yankees
???LOL! Just stating that as a principle, eh? 😂
Ohtani seems like a wonderful guy, but the whole story about the interpreter having access to that much of his money stinks to high heaven. Doesn’t pass the sniff test.
If you know many immigrants it makes sense.
It was only one of Ohtani’s accounts and it was set up in person with Ippei translating. Dude knew the passwords and security features.
Every non English speaking immigrant has someone they trust help them when they move here.
Have you really not noticed the number of athletes, entertainers, family member, et al who have been ripped off for shocking amounts of money in just the past few years. Maybe put the sniff test in the garbage where it belongs and try the evidence test. You and so many others act as though this sort of theft never happens so it MUST be suspicious, a premise based totally on ignorance.
There were recordings of his interpreter talking to his bank.
Ohtani SAYS he didn’t gamble, and we should all believe EVERYONE because they all tell the truth. Who’s more valuable to the team Ohtani or the interpreter? So, who’s going to take the fall? You couldn’t have the best player in baseball being suspended forever, so interpreter man took the fall. Probably made some cash from the deal. If Pete Rose had been asked if he bet on baseball and said,”no”, and they had treated him like Ohtani he’d been in the Hall of Fame right now.
Pete Rose did say no but the preponderance of evidence proved otherwise.
While MLB had a vested interest in shielding Ohtani the FBI didn’t.
“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.”
Pete said he wished HE had an interpreter (after seeing Ohtani skate)
The hall of fame of pederasts.
Ohtani gambled. Bet on it.
Did we ever hear what the bookie said about whether or not Ohtani was involved?
It’s been a big story out here. The bookie said he saw Ohtani’s name on the incoming wire transfer receipt but that he talks to Ippei.
So many morons, so little time.
Who said they hate him?
Only an actual fool would believe that. MLB had way way way too much to lose and the proof is in the pudding of this years WS
As long as you believe that phantom
Let’s be frank – if the Ohtani thing happened with any other player, people would be more sympathetic. But because it was Dodgers Ohtani, whom people wanted a reason to dislike, they decided they’d be judge, jury, and executioner. Innocent until proven guilty – unless the guy accused is a guy I don’t like.
DS
“Innocent until proven guilty – unless the guy accused is a guy I don’t like.”
Innocent until proven guilty only applies to the law. Not people’s personal opinion.
People should learn what innocent until proven guilty means.
They should learn what “free speech” means as well
Did they gamble? The charges make no mention it. They do mention FIXING BETS, which is not gambling. It’s actually the opposite.
Dummies, especially Clase who signed a life-changing contract. What are they making by tossing 1st pitch balls? $50k? Idiots
It was actually only $7k
Well, Clase did miss a year due to PED’s in 2020 so his level of smarts is questionable in the first place. But he literally wrote off $8.4 mil for ’26 and beyond (probably a lot more) by doing the gambling thing.
Clase would have gotten nearly $100m in this market after what Diaz got
Hard to say as Clase’s deal had him locked up (if he performed) through 2028 season at 6.4/10/10m salaries.
With the lockout, CBA upheaval pending, who knows what the market would be like by the time he hit, with a QO most Likely attached.
Way more than the chump change he got here, but, sometimes I wonder if some of these situation are less about the money and more about what happens if you dont play along.
It happened twice this season. They each got paid 5K the first time & 7K the second time so 12 K total. And now their career is finished.
I’m curious how the gambling ring actually makes a profit off this. Is there really enough money to be made in the outcome of a random MLB pitch, to cover the payoff made to a pitcher? Or is it more that the pitcher is deliberately putting himself into a hitters count, and is less likely to succeed?
You can specifically bet on the outcome of each pitch, so if they know the first pitch of an inning will be a ball…
can you actually live bet on balls/strikes?
Suitcase, if you have an opinion on something someone will take a bet against it. They can’t help themselves
Yes
Someone sought them out…
Why weren’t they protected like Ohtani was?
@casey 27, a joint Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Probe brought the charges against Mizuhara, and he was convicted and sentenced by a US District Court judge.
You are inferring that Homeland, the IRS and the Court were all in on some conspiracy with MLB to protect Ohtani? …..and not a single whistleblower from within Homeland, IRS, or the court system on said conspiracy?
justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/former-interpreter-senten…
Come on, Sunday
A bunch of people who didn’t see the evidence certainly know more about this than the IRS and the court that tried the case.
🤣
Don’t go about bringing facts and logic into this!
To be fair I could totally see the government covering ohtani given how the last 2 presidents have made the system corrupt
But ippei did change to guilty so most likely it was him
Ohtani is the only reason people watch baseball anymore. Take him away and mlb is demoted to cornhole level popularity
I’m not excusing them, but there will be more cases like this as sport betting continues to take over sports.
I dunno; there was plenty of stuff like this back when sports gambling was banned.
Pete Rose
Hal Chase
The Black Sox
Point-shaving scandals in college basketball.
True, but now we have live TV broadcasts giving us odds on Fan Duel for everything in game. The broadcast booth itself will mention it too. It is so much more involved and open now.
Every sport is going to single out a handful of gambling involved people and then proudly announce how their efforts to clean up their sport have worked well. The NFL, NBA, Pro Soccer are all involved. MLB too
All these sports betting sponsorships are very much not a good look right now.
That is exactly why people get addicted to gambling. They have ads everywhere and that is like putting alcohol on a table in front of someone trying to stop drinking. Just like cigarette commercials, it should be illegal to show advertisements for these sportsbooks.
Tip of the iceberg, 6 just went down in college basketball for gambling more to come. It’s the next opioid crisis.
I’d much rather have this activity exposed than go back to Pete Rose secretly managing like Game 7 when he had a bet down and letting his pitchers get shelled when he didn’t.
Ortiz’s career is over and Clase will be back in 3-4 years.
More like both are going to be banned for life
IF they are found guilty…
They can do what Felipe Vasquez did. Changed his name (back to Rivero) and played in Venezuela the last two years. I’m sure Clase will find someone interested.
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Well played.
Cleveland.com this morning had a statement that says if Clase is found to have violated MLB’s gambling guidelines then it would go to an arbitrator to decide if Cleveland had to pay part or all of Clase’s salary. Why? In what world should an MLB team pay a player who screwed up off the field?
Dang, no money off the books? Poor paul
Guaranteed contracts.
Just being charged *I dont think* allows you onto the restricted list, if youre still in the country, and not locked up.
Other high profile situations, like Franco, where there were charges you had visa issues for them getting back in. This is sort of the opposite of that.
I wouldnt imagine we see a plea deal or quick resolution before the season, and, if you recall, when the whole ohtani mess was being sorted out, he wasnt suspended or unpaid while they tried to figure out his involvement. So you’ve got that recent precedent you’ve got to follow
I can’t remember, did ohtani even miss any games?
Meat – not only did he not miss games, he played while the ‘official MLB investigation’ separate from the feds was ongoing.
If you do anything other than that here, MLBPA will go ballistic against CLE and MLB – and that relationship is already so strained headed into this CBA….
Well that’s weird!
Lololol
Both clase and Ortiz, and Bauer and Franco…, were already suspended during their investigations
Oh, they already knew ohtani didn’t do nothin, no need to suspend, I understand
Ohtani was not suspended and he did not miss any games during the time MLB conducted its 12-hour investigation.
I’m shocked! Shocked to find that gambling is going on in here.
– MLB & MLBPA in a joint statement sponsored by FanDuel, BetMGM & DraftKings
Clase was potentially on a HOF trajectory and he had aleady locked in over $15 million in guaranteed money, and was likely to make tens of millions more in his career.
Absolutely wild that he apparently threw it all away for the cheap, fleeting thrill of gambling.
They should’ve hired an interpreter.
Gambling is just as insidious as drugs and other societal blights.
And just as fun too 😎
Not only do they know its addictive, but they try to set the hook and get you accustomed with all those ‘free credits with your initial bet’ promotions.
If anything, id say the legalization of so many types of sports betting has only *increased* the illegal betting. Illegal books would let you bet on credit, that was always their hook. Nowadays, some gets used to legal betting but runs short on cash, wants that same rush, they now *turn* to illegal books when they never wouldve before.
remember tobacco companies saying there was no evidence cigarettes are harmful? members of lucrative industries lie with every breath they take
These guys arent English speaking. Surely they have an interpreter. Dummies
And whose fault is that? No excuse for criminal activity.
The several commentors who point out that MLB’s involvement and partnership with legal gambling actually works as a corrective AGAINST this sort of thing are right. Fanduels, Draftkings, etc. are opposed to this kind of thing and want to see it exposed and ended.
At the same time, in a broader sense, MLB giving gambling its imprimateur, and making (big) money from it, makes this kind of thing inevitable.
Both things are true.
So you saying Fanduels of the world only want you to gamble with them? And that’s supposed to help? Gotcha.
We don’t know what if any outside pressure was put on these guys to do this. Of course that’s not to say the areas they come from are anything less than Disney land.
The craziest part about all of this is that the gambling ring was not even in the United States. From what the Spanish media is saying the gambling ring operates in the Caribbean and South America
If it’s news from any major news organization it’s fake
From Cy Young candidate to this…ugh
7 grand apiece? Wow stupidity at its greatest
Im going to speculate, because this is a rumors site. Why not gossip?
It could be they were to get a ‘cut’ of whatever the action generated. And, you look where they came from, there could’ve been a you cooperate or else xyz happens to someone you know. Thats a bit more common where that ring supposedly operated, and, $7k is a lot more money there.
I seem to recall stories of mlb players families being ransomed before somewhere in the recesses of my mind.
Im not excusing what happened, but, id be curious if that might be the case. And if it is, the same threat may hold…. you tell anyone about the threats, and we do worse…
Cleveland fans thought this guy should have won the Cy Young award over Tarik Skubal, huh? PEDs AND gambling? Class act.
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Baseball fans naivety astounds. Fixes have been in before legalized gambling. People who believe the unicorn wasn’t complicit imagine the Astros were the only team cheating in 2017-18. Top of the tier franchises have ways and means to ensure their continued success, MLB is a $85 billion dollar conglomerate.. Do you really think everything is above board?
Beltran brought ideas with him to the Astros…
crazy that these guys risked their careers for small amounts of money.. obviously it was more than just the 1 ball that they got paid 5k for but even just that one incident would be enough to get you banned from baseball.
Maybe home plate umpires should have been investigated
I hope all of them are. Many of their calls are extremely suspicious if not obvious.
An indictment is neither a guilty plea nor a conviction. In this country, you are innocent until proven guilty.
“innocent until proven guilty” is a theoretical concept that is sometimes true and sometimes not.
GOOD! Maybe this will be the wake-up call the betting on sports is bad for sports (it won’t).
There will be more. A lot more.
Don’t think it be wake up call since MLB has sponsor deal with gambling
Outlawing prop bets would put an end to a lot of this. How you make that work is another matter.
Just dumb beyond belief. Both these guys had enormous money waiting for them in baseball. And they threw away millions for a little extra change from gamblers.
Of course, cutting off legalized gambling would be no solution at all. See Sox, Black. Too bad we can’t cut off stupidity.
these guys made their own decisions but the absurd amount of in-game real-time micro bets made this inevitable. mlb with assume the moral high ground while not taking a nanosecond to reconsider its close partnership with sports gambling
First Clase and the PED’s, then he comes back and he puts up an all time great stretch as a closer, setting himself up for the payday of all paydays and then proceeds to throw it all away… for a few thousand bucks. PED’s are one thing but my brother, you are never throwing another pitch in affiliated ball again.
People never satisfy with what they have
Paid the price
Making millions and can make more millions
At least they are not the only ones
Hopefully others learn from them and don’t make mistakes
The stupiding of Merica just keeps on keeping on.
I wonder if the penalties are so high due to the three-strike sentencing guidelines…
Imagine losing everything. Over peanuts.
Stoopid athletes
65 Years!! They should have signed with the Dodgers so they could get the time deferred!
Maybe MLB will re-examine it’s partnership with betting outlets. They decided the money was worth more than their integrity. If nothing else can they ban the commercials from the broadcasts they are so F’N annoying!
Just absolutely stupid.
Ortiz is a guy no one will remember in 5 years. Clase gave MLB the one thing they’ve been hoping for: an All Star player who isn’t a Yankee or a Dodger that most have heard of but won’t be missed that they can nail to the wall and make an example of
Surprised comments are not closed here
Good riddance