For nearly four months, Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been the subject of an MLB investigation. He and Luis Ortiz are currently on non-disciplinary leave while the league probes claims of gambling on specific pitches. While the league and the Guardians have yet to provide more clarity on the outcome of the investigation, the saga took another turn Wednesday evening when three people familiar with the decision who weren’t authorized to speak publicly revealed something.

The Cleveland Guardians have decided to not grant permission for star reliever Emmanuel Clase to pitch in the Venezuelan winter league.

This decision came amidst Clase and Guardians starter Luis Ortiz filing a lawsuit against the LIDOM for their decision not to allow them to participate in the winter ball season.

Clase, in particular, was looking forward to playing in the winter league in his home country, the Dominican Republic. However, he was barred from pitching this offseason for the Estrellas Orientales.He filed a lawsuit this week against both the Dominican league and its president, Vitelio Mejía.

What’s interesting here is that, because the Venezuelan league decision is outside of Clase’s home country, he needed permission from both MLB and the Guardians to play.

Not to forget, the Venezuelan Baseball League also features former Guardians player Sandy León and Zach Plesac, who play for Navegantes del Magallanes. They’re teammates with Tucupita Marcano, who was banned from MLB for life for betting on Pittsburgh Pirates games while he was on the team.

It looks like the Guardians may have hinted that a decision on Clase is coming soon, and he could face a potential suspension. If he is moved from non-disciplinary leave to an official suspension, he would perhaps need MLB’s written permission to play.

Despite the outcome of this investigation, these allegations will stick with Clase wherever he plays. You can take a look at all the debate among netizens around George Springer and the 2017 Astros. Even nearly ten years later it’s still being discussed. That’s just how long these things can follow a major leaguer.

What led Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz to this situation?

It all goes back to July, when starting pitcher Luis Ortiz was placed on non-administrative leave as part of an investigation into sports betting.

After a fortnight, Ortiz’s suspension was extended, and just over two weeks after that, Guardians reliever Emmanuel Clase was also handed a suspension. To top it all off, the timing couldn’t have been worse for the Guardians.

Hanging around .500 at the trade deadline, they were seriously considering trading Emmanuel Clase. However, because of his suspension, they missed the chance to cash in on his value and ended up losing him for nothing.

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Meanwhile, Major League Baseball never offered enough clarity on either pitcher’s case. The last official update came at the end of August, when the league said the suspensions would remain in effect “until further notice.”

Throughout the suspension, both pitchers were staying in shape but they haven’t been in any contact with the Guardians. Playing in LIDOM would sure have been their first opportunity to participate in organized baseball since being suspended.