congress Demands Answers from MLB Amidst Betting Scheme Allegations
WASHINGTON D.C. - Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation have sent a letter to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, expressing serious concern over alleged illegal betting activity involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, and requesting detailed information about the league’s handling of gambling-related issues. The inquiry comes as lawmakers warn of a potential “new integrity crisis” facing American sports.
Federal prosecutors indicted Clase and Ortiz on Sunday, accusing them of intentionally manipulating pitches during multiple games to allow gambling associates to profit from wagers. The allegations, which reportedly began in May 2023, were not discovered until recently, prompting questions from Senators Ted cruz and Maria Cantwell, who lead the committee.
“How did MLB catch Marcano and ban him for life but failed to notice Clase allegedly rigging pitches for two years?” the letter states, referencing the lifetime ban issued to former major leaguer Tucupita Marcano earlier in 2024 for betting on baseball. “The integrity of the game is paramount. MLB has every interest in ensuring baseball is free from influence and manipulation. … But considering these recent developments, MLB must clearly demonstrate how it is meeting its obligation to safeguard America’s pastime.”
The committee is requesting documentation detailing MLB’s betting policies and information on all betting-related investigations conducted since January 1, 2020. They have requested a response by December 5th.
MLB announced Monday that its sportsbook partners would implement a $200 limit on all bets involving individual pitches and prohibit them from being included in parlays, a move intended to reduce potential payouts and discourage manipulation.
This inquiry is not isolated to baseball. The same committee sent a letter to the NBA in October seeking information regarding the alleged betting scandal involving Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, former player and coach Damon Jones, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.
The committee expressed concern that multiple incidents of alleged manipulation across different leagues suggest a ”deeper, systemic vulnerability.” They wrote, ”An isolated incident of game rigging might be dismissed as an aberration, but the emergence of manipulation across multiple leagues suggests a deeper, systemic vulnerability. These developments warrant thorough scrutiny by Congress before misconduct issues become more widespread.”
ESPN has reached out to MLB for comment.
