Tuesday, November 11, 2025

MLB Pitchers Charged with Taking Bribes to Rig Pitches

Two Major League Baseball pitchers were indicted Sunday on charges they took bribes ...

More

Two Major League Baseball pitchers have been indicted on charges they took bribes to give bettors advance notice of the types of pitches they'd throw and intentionally tossed balls instead of strikes.

[image or embed]

-- NPR (@npr.org) Nov 9, 2025 at 6:26 PM

Comments

More from the article ...

... Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, both of whom pitched for the Cleveland Guardians, have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July while Major League Baseball investigated unusually high in-game betting activity when they pitched.

Clase, 27, and Ortiz, 26, were both charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. The top charges carry a potential punishment of up to 20 years in prison in the event of a conviction.

Ortiz was arrested by the FBI on Sunday morning at Boston Logan International Airport. He is expected to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday.

Major League Baseball said it contacted federal law enforcement when it began investigating the unusual betting activity and "has fully cooperated" with authorities. "We are aware of the indictment and today's arrest, and our investigation is ongoing," its statement said. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-11-09 09:43 PM

So... taking bribes to act in a certain manner now seems to be more profitable than the outrageous salaries garnered by pro players?

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-11-09 09:46 PM

Too white for a perp walk?

#3 | Posted by fresno500 at 2025-11-10 03:18 AM

Online betting is killing sports.

#4 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-11-10 07:50 PM

They should have ditched the baseball career and ran for congress. None of this would be an issue.

#5 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-11-11 11:59 AM

Professional sports deserves to die.

#6 | Posted by Nixon at 2025-11-11 12:10 PM

Emmanuel Clase has been one of the best overall pitchers in baseball and has undisputedly been the best closer so far this decade. He was due to make $6.4M in 2026 with club options that were sure to be exercised for 27 and 28 that would pay him $10M/year.
When I say Clase has been good I mean he's been on a hall of fame path. At age 27, he has 136 more saves than MLB career leader and the only person to ever be unanimously voted into the Hall, Mariano Rivera, had the same age and his numbers have been superior to Rivera based on pretty much all metrics. Had he remained scandal free he'd be in line to receive the biggest contract ever given to a closer in MLB, that currently being $102 million over 5 years ($20.4M/year) when he would have become a free agent at age 30. He's thrown away would have likely been around $200M over the remainder of his playing career.
IT has been reported that bettors earned about $700K on the rigged pitches and Clase may have received around $15K in kickbacks.

#7 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2025-11-11 12:55 PM

This is why betting sites on tragedies is such a good idea. Any weird mathematical anomaly sticks out. If suddenly a bunch of bettors from Lebanon and a bunch of bettors in London bet on a certain catastrophic event on a certain day...it gives investigators A LOT of evidence.

For example, despite all the NDAs, in the afternoon of August 23rd of 2000, about a hundred maximum bets were made from Studio City, California, on Richard Hatch to win the original season of Survivor.

#8 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-11-11 01:14 PM

Maybe Clase can hurry up and strike up a business agreement with Trump and get a pardon like Darryl Strawberry.

#9 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2025-11-11 01:31 PM

about a hundred maximum bets were made from Studio City, California, on Richard Hatch to win the original season of Survivor.
#8 | Posted by Danforth

There are people who vote on pro wrestling despite knowing it is all rigged.

#10 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2025-11-11 01:34 PM

IT has been reported that bettors earned about $700K on the rigged pitches and Clase may have received around $15K in kickbacks.

Imagine pissing away HOF and $16.4 million for $15,000.

It staggers the mind. It is pure arrogance to act that way.

#11 | Posted by Nixon at 2025-11-12 07:56 AM

Drudge Retort Headlines

WaPo: Drug Boat Survivors Were Killed (102 comments)

Trump Feuds with His White House Ballroom Architect (16 comments)

Nick Fuentes Turns on Marjorie Taylor Greene (15 comments)

Trump Uses Death of National Guard Member to Boast of Election Win (15 comments)

19-year-old College Student Deported Despite Judge's Order Blocking Her Removal: Lawyer (14 comments)

Dem Who Wins in Red US Has Advice for His Party (13 comments)

Why are so Many pro-Trump X Accounts Based in Asia? (13 comments)

North Carolina Trump Voter Closes Family Business (13 comments)

Trump: Land action Against alleged Drug Traffickers in Venezuela to Start (12 comments)

Putin Doubles Down on Demands for Ukrainian Territory (12 comments)