Major League Baseball has told the Cleveland Guardians that pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are not allowed to report to spring training in Goodyear, Arizona. The league informed the club on Monday that both right-handers will stay on the restricted list while their federal cases and MLB's own review move forward. The timing could not be tighter, arriving less than 24 hours before pitchers and catchers were scheduled to report and leaving Cleveland to open camp without two veteran arms.
MLB Blocks Both From Camp
MLB notified the Guardians that Clase and Ortiz are barred from joining team workouts and must remain away from camp while investigations continue. As reported by Cleveland.com, the league relayed the decision to the club on Monday, and the pitchers will not be allowed into the Goodyear facility with the rest of the roster.
Indictments, Trial Date and Current Status
Federal prosecutors indicted Clase and Ortiz in November on charges alleging they took payoffs to influence specific pitches, and both have pleaded not guilty, according to The Associated Press. A federal judge in Brooklyn has kept a May 4 trial date in place while the defense and prosecution continue to dispute discovery and other pretrial issues, L.A. Magazine reported.
How Big Are the Stakes?
The indictment includes counts of wire-fraud conspiracy, honest-services fraud, money-laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests. Those charges carry potentially long prison terms and would likely lead to severe MLB discipline if there are convictions. ESPN notes that Clase was slated to earn roughly $6.4 million in 2026, and both pitchers now face not only possible prison time but also the possibility of a lifetime ban from the sport if MLB determines that Rule 21 was violated.
What It Means for the Guardians' Roster and Payroll
With camp opening, Cleveland has to reshuffle its bullpen and rotation plans without two front-line pitchers and with no clear sense of how long the situation will drag on. MLB Trade Rumors reported that teams typically continue paying players while they remain on administrative leave until formal discipline is imposed. MLB's restriction on the pitchers reporting to camp, summarized by RotoWire from MLB.com's Tim Stebbins, adds urgency to Cleveland's need for immediate roster adjustments.
The Guardians issued a brief statement saying they will cooperate with both law enforcement and the league as the process moves forward, but they offered no timetable for when there might be clarity on either player's future. With the May trial date looming, Cleveland is set to begin the season under a cloud of uncertainty surrounding two of its best arms.
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