Court filings expand Emmanuel Clase betting scheme to 48 games
A new court filing alleges MLB closer Emmanuel Clase helped a bettor rig pitches in at least 48 games over two years—far more than the nine games cited in the November indictment—accusing Ortiz and Clase of taking kickbacks; Ortiz's attorney argues he has a different level of culpability and seeks to sever his case, while Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in June 2025 and both players were placed on paid leave by MLB in July. Clase’s team has argued that some text messages were misinterpreted and tied to his Dominican Republic rooster-fighting activities, and at least one bettor claimed he placed wagers on Clase’s pitches as a “big sports fan.”
