Former Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, who is to stand trial in May on federal sports corruption charges, allegedly conspired to rig far more pitches than originally revealed by federal prosecutors, according to a document filed on Thursday in the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) and quoted by ESPN.
That’s part of the reason why his co-conspirator, former Cleveland pitcher Luis Ortiz, is attempting to have a separate trial.
The indictment unsealed in November against Clase and Ortiz alleges that Clase had conspired with bettors to manipulate prop bets by intentionally throwing pitches that were errant or at agreed-upon velocities in nine games from 2023-25. Ortiz allegedly began doing the same in June.
A filing by Ortiz attorney Christos N. Georgalis asked that his client’s case to be severed from Clase’s because of “markedly different levels of culpability,” and their expected conflicting defenses. Georgalis noted that Clase had been much more invested in the plot, specifically serving as the conduit to the alleged Dominican Republic gambling ring.
ESPN reported on Thursday that the court filing claimed that Clase had manipulate pitches in 48 games. That had been redacted from the docket entry on Friday.
Another court filing notes that at least 250 pitches are in question.
Clase, conflicts, contentiousness
Ortiz’s attorneys argue that a jury would be prejudiced against their client by association as it listens to “26 months of alleged criminal conduct” by Clase. They contend that because of the small scale of alleged misconduct against Ortiz, his trial could wrap in days. Sitting through Clase’s trial, they argue, incriminates him by association.
It also appears that Ortiz attorneys will stress how little time the pitcher was involved, and that he never communicated, they say, with gamblers. Prosecutors claim that each accepted bribes from two gamblers in the Dominican Republic, who won at least $460,000 wagering on their pitch outcomes.
“Given the defendants’ likely mutually antagonistic defenses,” the request continues, “severance is warranted because prejudice to Mr. Ortiz likely will arise.”
According to Ortiz’s attorneys, Clase lawyers Michael Ferrara, Michael Bronson, Lindsay Gerdes, and Riley Able of the law firm Dinsmore & Shohl participated in pre-indictment interviews with four potential government witnesses and would be called to testify in Ortiz’s trial.
Clase and Ortiz each pleaded not guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to influence sporting events by bribery charges. They could face upward of 65 years in federal prison.
While Clase was originally charged with conspiring with bettors from 2023-2025, Ortiz was accused of rigging pitches in two games over a 12-day span in June. Both were placed on administrative leave in July through an agreement with MLB and the player union.
Clase led the American League in saves from 2022-24, and was third in Cy Young voting in 2024. He had 24 saves in 2025 when he was placed on leave.
A court filing from Jan. 16 described the federal investigation of Clase as “ongoing.” The EDNY must file its reply in opposition to Ortiz’s sever request by Feb. 17.
Puig found guilty in wagering case
Former Los Angeles Dodgers player Yasiel Puig Friday was found guilty of obstruction of justice and making false statements for lying about bets he placed with illegal bookmaker Wayne Nix, per a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Central California. Puig is set to be sentenced May 26.
According to evidence presented at the 13-day trial, Puig started placing bets with Donny Kadokawa, who worked with Nix, in May 2019. Nix in 2022 pled guilty to running an illegal bookmaking business. Within two months of his first bet, Puig was $282,900 in debt to Nix’s wagering business. Puig ultimately paid the debt using cashier’s checks to a third party, and later told federal agents that he did not know the person who instructed him to make the checks payable to the third party, nor had he ever discussed gambling with Kadokawa. Federal authorities later found an audio message in which Puig admitted to lying.
Puig, who was released on his own recognizance, faces up to 15 years in prison.
Jill R. Dorson contributed to this report.
