Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of MLB’s gambling investigation that led to teammate Luis Ortiz getting the same treatment, according to ESPN.
Clase, 27, is one of the best closers in baseball, recording a 3.23 ERA with 24 saves this season.
The three-time All-Star is coming off a historic season in which he pitched to a microscopic 0.61 ERA in 74 1/3 innings during the 2024 season.
Ortiz, a starting pitcher, was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave on July 3 after two individual pitches of his from June were reportedly flagged by a betting-integrity company based on unusual betting action on them.
His ban was originally through the All-Star break but was extended.
Clase has been the subject of trade rumors ahead of Thursday’s 6 p.m. deadline with the Guardians (52-53) in the midsts of a mediocre season.
Cleveland is 3 1/2 games back of the final AL wild-card spot and eight games back of the AL Central-leading Tigers.
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