Two Cleveland Guardians players, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, have been indicted over allegations they conspired to rig pitches during games for gambling purposes. The indictment, announced on Sunday, marks the latest expansion of a betting crisis in US sports.
Prosecutors allege that Ortiz was paid $5,000 for intentionally throwing a ball during a game on 15 June, with Clase receiving a similar amount for facilitating the scheme. The pair are accused of repeating the act on 27 June, each receiving $7,000. Gamblers in the Dominican Republic, the players' home country, are also implicated.
ESPN reported that Ortiz was arrested in Boston on Sunday, while Clase has not yet been taken into custody. The players have been on paid leave since July as Major League Baseball investigated unusual betting activity during games in which they pitched.
Major League Baseball said in a statement: 'MLB contacted federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and has fully cooperated throughout the process. We are aware of the indictment and today’s arrest, and our investigation is ongoing.' The Guardians added: 'We will continue to fully cooperate with both law enforcement and Major League Baseball as their investigations continue.'
The charges include fraud, conspiracy and bribery, carrying a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison. Ortiz earned $782,600 in salary last season, while Clase, a three-time All-Star, was paid $4.5m.
