The Cleveland Guardians were rocked on Aug 1, 2025, as Emmanuel Clase faces a sports betting investigation and the team trades Shane Bieber to the Twins.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when you thought the trade deadline dust had settled, a bombshell dropped on Cleveland. Star closer Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary leave amid a league investigation into sports betting, casting a massive shadow over a team fighting to stay at .500. On a day that also saw the franchise officially move on from a former Cy Young winner, the Guardians find themselves navigating turbulent waters both on and off the field.
Closer Emmanuel Clase was placed on non-disciplinary leave as part of a sports betting investigation.
The biggest and most troubling news of the day is the situation surrounding Emmanuel Clase. The All-Star closer has been placed on non-disciplinary leave, a move connected to a sports betting investigation. As expected, the organization is remaining tight-lipped, stating they are not permitted to comment further. This leaves the bullpen, a pillar of the team's strength, with a gaping hole at the back end. For a team with virtually no margin for error, losing one of the most dominant closers in baseball for any length of time is a devastating blow.
In what would have been the headline on any other day, the Shane Bieber era in Cleveland has come to an end. The Guardians traded the injured former Cy Young winner to the division-rival Minnesota Twins, receiving promising young right-hander Khal Stephen in return. While Bieber hasn't pitched due to his elbow injury, the move is a bittersweet turning of the page. Stephen is a solid prospect for the farm system, but watching a franchise icon like Bieber get traded, especially to a rival, is a tough pill for fans to swallow.
The front office was busy trying to plug the leaks. To add bullpen depth in the wake of the Clase news and other recent moves, the Guardians claimed 27-year-old righty Carlos Hernández off waivers from the Tigers. Offensively, the team is looking for a spark by recalling Johnathan Rodríguez from Triple-A Columbus. Rodríguez offers a more consistent offensive profile and defensive flexibility, taking the roster spot of Jhonkensy Noel, who was optioned to continue his development in the minors. These moves show a front office scrambling to keep the big-league club competitive.
Somehow, there's still a game to be played. The Guardians (54-54) enter a critical series opener against the Minnesota Twins (51-57) tonight at Progressive Field. Cleveland, favored at -113, will send Gavin Williams (6-4, 3.51 ERA) to the mound to face a tough opponent in Minnesota's Joe Ryan (10-5, 2.82 ERA). After all the off-field drama, getting a win against a division opponent would be a massive morale boost. With the team on a two-game winning streak, they'll need players like Steven Kwan to lead the way and tune out the noise.
It's been a whirlwind 24 hours for the Guardians and their fans. Saying goodbye to an ace and facing the potential loss of an elite closer in the same breath is a gut punch. But the season waits for no one. Tonight, against a division rival, the focus must shift back to the diamond. How this resilient team responds to the chaos will define the rest of their season, starting with a crucial series at Progressive Field.
