On July 28, 2025, Major League Baseball (MLB) placed Cleveland Guardians’ star closer Emmanuel Clase on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of an ongoing investigation into sports betting. The 27-year-old, three-time All-Star, known for his dominant 1.88 career ERA and 182 saves, is sidelined through at least August 31, 2025, alongside teammate Luis Ortiz, who faced similar scrutiny earlier in July.
Clase, a cornerstone of Cleveland’s bullpen, has been a standout performer, notably finishing third in the 2024 American League Cy Young voting. This season, despite a slight dip in performance, he recorded 24 saves. The Guardians, currently struggling with a 52-54 record, now face challenges in their bullpen strategy, with manager Stephen Vogt indicating a reliance on matchup-specific pitching, potentially elevating setup man Cade Smith.
This isn’t Clase’s first suspension. In 2020, he served an 80-game ban for testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing drug, shortly after being traded to Cleveland. The current gambling probe, which has drawn comparisons to the Shohei Ohtani interpreter scandal, has sparked significant concern, with some fans on X calling for harsh penalties, though no formal charges have been confirmed.
The suspension disrupts Cleveland’s trade deadline plans, as Clase’s affordable contract made him a valuable asset. The Guardians have stated no additional players are expected to be implicated, but the investigation’s outcome remains uncertain, leaving a cloud over the team’s postseason aspirations.
