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Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed that the league will comply with a request from the U.S. Senate committee for documents related to ongoing gambling investigations. This announcement was made during a press conference held at an owners’ meeting.
Manfred stated, “We are committed to responding fully and cooperatively, ensuring we meet the deadline established by the Senate inquiry.” This commitment comes amid a significant scandal affecting the sport, involving Cleveland Guardians players Emanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. Both players have been accused of accepting bribes to manipulate pitches, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the game.
On Monday, Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee reached out to Manfred, requesting that the league provide answers to six specific questions by December 5.
In response to the unsealed indictments issued on November 9, Major League Baseball announced limitations on betting practices. The league’s authorized gaming operators will now cap wagers on individual pitches at $200, explicitly excluding these from parlay bets.
Manfred emphasized the importance of these changes, indicating that the adjustments reflect a significant effort from MLB to reduce potential misconduct in betting practices. He explained, “By capping the size of these prop bets and barring parlays, we aim to diminish the motivations for individuals to engage in inappropriate actions.”
MLB is currently conducting an internal investigation into the behavior of the Cleveland players, but Manfred noted that there is no specific timeline for the investigation’s completion. Both Ortiz and Clase have been placed on paid leave since July.
He remarked, “Utilizing the offseason allows us to ensure we perform the most thorough investigation possible.” Both players have entered not guilty pleas in response to the corruption charges against them.
Clase and Ortiz faced charges in federal court in New York last week. Clase, a three-time All-Star, has been accused of accepting bribes in exchange for providing inside information on his pitching. Ortiz stands accused of similarly engaging in this illegal scheme.
The indictment alleges that from May 2023 to June 2025, Clase communicated with a co-conspirator to intentionally throw specific pitches in selected Major League Baseball games, which would allow their betting partners to profit from illegal wagers placed based on this insider knowledge. Ortiz is said to have joined the plot in June 2025.
Specific instances were laid out in the indictment, including a game against the New York Mets on May 19, 2023, where Clase was found to have discussed throwing a specific type of pitch on the very first throw of an at-bat.
According to the indictment, Clase began accepting bribes and kickbacks in April, and on one occasion, he allegedly coordinated with a bettor via his phone during a game regarding the pitch he would throw.
Betting activities linked to Clase reportedly generated $400,000 in winnings for bettors from the 2023 to 2025 season.
When Ortiz allegedly became involved in the scheme, he also agreed to manipulate his pitching to favor the bettors in exchange for bribes. For instance, he purportedly agreed to intentionally throw a ball on his first pitch in the second inning against the Seattle Mariners for approximately $5,000.
The indictment further alleges that Ortiz was involved in a similar agreement on June 27 against the St. Louis Cardinals, in which he was promised $7,000 to throw a ball on his first pitch of the third inning. In June 2025, Ortiz’s actions reportedly resulted in at least $60,000 in winnings for bettors.
The announcement of these indictments comes shortly after a major FBI operation that implicated several figures from the NBA in a separate illegal gambling scheme. More than two dozen individuals, including notable names such as Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier, were arrested during this crackdown.
In light of these serious developments, Major League Baseball will likely face continued scrutiny as the investigations progress. The need to protect the integrity of the game has never been more critical. It remains to be seen how these actions will affect player trust and fan engagement moving forward.
As the league navigates this challenging landscape, Manfred’s commitment to transparency and cooperation with federal inquiries will be essential. The outcome of these investigations could set crucial precedents for the future of sports betting regulations and the overall integrity of the sport.
