Spanish
Santo Domingo. — The Cleveland Guardians cleared the lockers of Dominican pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz this Friday, a measure that comes amid the investigation into alleged betting involving both players.
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The action, reported by journalist Zack Meisel of The Athletic, surprised the baseball world, as neither Clase nor Ortiz have been subject to changes after the Major League Baseball trade deadline. Both remain suspended with pay until, at least, August 31, while the team continues its series at home against the Minnesota Twins. The absence of Clase represents a significant blow to Cleveland's bullpen. The stellar closer, a three-time All-Star, has accumulated 181 saves and an ERA of 1.88 in five seasons with the franchise. He was on track for his fourth consecutive season with 40 or more saves and is under contract until 2026 for $6.4 million, with team options for 2027 and 2028. It should be remembered that in 2020 he was suspended for the use of boldenone, a banned substance. Luis Ortiz, for his part, was sanctioned on July 3rd after two suspicious pitches were detected in games on June 15th and 27th. Since his debut in 2022, the right-hander has seen action in 75 games —50 of them as a starter—, recording a 16-22 record and a 4.05 ERA. Cleveland's decision has raised questions, especially given the interest that several teams had shown in acquiring an elite closer like Clase before the trade deadline, in a context where other renowned relievers like Mason Miller, Jhoan Durán, and David Bednar changed teams.
