The Cleveland Guardians will be dealing with the fallout from the gambling scandal that involved pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz for a very long time. As new details continue to emerge involving Clase’s involvement, it will be difficult to avoid the shadow of the allegations heading into a new season.
Most of the players at spring training were teammates with Clase, and what they are hearing has to make them angry. Reports state that the All-Star closer was throwing suspect pitches in as many as three seasons, including during the playoffs.
With that in mind, analyst Tony Rizzo is sounding off on Clase, wondering why he would do such a thing.
“I just cannot believe the stupidity of Emmanuel Clase. How can you do that to your teammates?” Rizzo said.
"I can just not believe the stupidity of Emmanuel Clase, HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO YOUR TEAMMATES?," – Rizz on the report that Clase rigged pitches in the 2024 playoffs. pic.twitter.com/9C7SS6swoA
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) February 16, 2026
A recent report by Zack Meisel of That Athletic said that Clase was throwing tainted pitches in the 2024 postseason. That year, he appeared in seven games over two series against the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees.
Following a spectacular regular season that earned him AL Reliever of the Year honors, Clase was particularly ineffective in the ALCS against the Yankees. A blown save in Game 3 and a loss in Game 4 likely cost the Guardians a trip to the World Series.
Former Cleveland coach Craig Albernaz, who is now manager of the Baltimore Orioles, recently admitted he was “shocked” to learn what Clase and Ortiz were doing. He also called it a “blow to the clubhouse.”
As of now, no current Guardians player has publicly addressed the situation. However, they are undoubtedly talking about it amongst themselves, which has to be a huge distraction with Opening Day approaching.
Further details are bound to come up as the case makes its way through the legal system. Clase and Ortiz are facing multiple criminal charges that could send them to prison for several years.
Clase was recently granted permission to reside in Arizona, though he is not allowed to attend spring training. He made the request so he can better train to potentially resume his career. However, that outcome seems extremely unlikely, because even if acquitted, he would still face a lifetime ban from MLB.
Even if that weren’t the case, very few players would likely want him as a teammate, knowing what they do now.
NEXT: Guardians Have A Tough Decision Looming In Spring Training
