NEW YORK - A federal courtroom in Brooklyn spent Friday sorting through a pile of text messages that may have been about cockfighting, or may have been something far more serious: a pitch-rigging scheme involving Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase.
At the center of the dispute was a simple question with big consequences. When Clase and others kept talking about “chickens” and “roosters,” were they discussing cockfighting in the Dominican Republic, where both sides agree the practice is common and legal? Or were they using animal code words to disguise betting-related messages about manipulated pitches?
The prosecution says the language was cover. The defense says it was exactly what it sounded like.
Clase, 28, and Luis Ortiz, 27, are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sports contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. Prosecutors allege Clase rigged 18 pitches over three seasons, while Ortiz is accused of rigging two.
Both men have pleaded not guilty and deny the allegations. A third defendant, Robinson Vasquez, faces a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Much of Friday’s testimony came through FBI agent Amy Barnett, who appeared as a “publication witness” and presented evidence gathered during the investigation. Prosecutors used her to walk the jury through messages they say point to a betting operation. Defense attorney Lindsay Gerdes then used the same evidence to argue the opposite: that Clase was genuinely talking about cockfighting, not baseball fraud.
One of the prosecution’s key points was the repeated appearance of “Zunino” in the texts. That name belongs to former Guardians catcher Mike Zunino, who was behind the plate for several of the allegedly rigged pitches. The government is not accusing Zunino of any wrongdoing, but prosecutor Rebecca Urquiola pressed the idea that references to him made sense only in the context of pitch manipulation.
The defense pushed back with a different set of messages, also from 2023, that showed Clase talking openly about cockfighting. Those texts included videos of caged chickens, and many of them came from the same group chat where the government says the betting scheme was being arranged.
The government also highlighted a May 30, 2023 exchange in which Clase texted the group about “the chicks all clucking at each other.” Paca replied that the “second rooster came in with all the heat” after the first rooster was “slower,” as expected.
That night, Clase faced Baltimore Orioles infielder Terrin Vavra. On the first pitch, he threw a slider.
On the second, a cut fastball. Earlier betting evidence showed bettors lost on the second pitch after wagering that Clase would throw a slider.
Prosecutors also tried to show that Paca and Pena were talking to each other about the bets, which would undercut one of the defense’s main theories. The defense has argued that Pena invented the scheme and lied to bettors by claiming he had insider information he did not actually possess.
Still, the Paca-Pena texts the government showed were filled with rooster references and other ambiguous language. In June 2023, the two wrote, “Only one rooster,” followed by unclear references to “Zunino.” They also discussed communicating with Clase.
Gerdes spent a good part of her cross-examination trying to narrow Barnett’s role and her knowledge of the evidence. She pointed out that Barnett did not take part in the investigation, had not seen messages that might help the defense, and had misidentified at least one person in video evidence. Barnett also acknowledged she did not know that one person on the text chain was Paca’s gamecock handler, and she said the chat name, “Con 20/200,” referred to a standard bet on a cockfight.
“I don’t know the context,” Barnett acknowledged in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn.
The defense then presented its own set of May 2023 messages, covering May 6-21, which it said were straightforward cockfighting conversations. In those texts, Clase and others discussed strategy and the kinds of roosters that make strong fighters. Clase also sent Pena videos of roosters in cages.
The chat even included a Spanish-language podcast video about young baseball players involved in cockfighting, with Clase among those mentioned. In one text to Pena, Clase wrote, “I like to fight my birds where the real cockfights are,”
Urquiola’s redirect was brief, but she drew a line between the two sets of messages. She did not dispute that the defense’s texts appeared to be about cockfighting. Instead, she focused on whether those messages contained any mention of “Zunino,” suggesting that the prosecution’s texts were the ones tied to rigged baseball pitches.
After Barnett stepped down, the government called Chris Soriano, chief compliance officer at Penn Entertainment, formerly ESPN Bet. His testimony was short and centered on how betting lines are set, why users must agree to a company’s Terms of Use, and the risks that come with betting on inside information.
Soriano also said he did not know whether any bets on Clase’s pitches had ever been flagged by the company’s security and integrity system. That detail matters because, so far, no evidence has been presented explaining what first triggered the investigation into Ortiz and then Clase in late June 2025.
In Other News...
Guardians May Have A Sensible Answer At First Base
The Guardians have spent plenty of time this winter looking for ways to squeeze more offense out of a lineup that could use another dependable bat, and first base stands out as one of the cleaner places to make a move. Free agent Ty France fits that conversation well. His 2026 work with the San Diego Padres gives Cleveland a recent example of a hitter who can help stabilize the position, while also giving the front office a chance to address an area that has not offered much certainty.
First base is still a spot where the Guardians can sort through internal options and prospects, but the appeal of a straightforward veteran answer is obvious when the roster is trying to improve without creating more holes elsewhere. The bigger picture remains the same, too: Cleveland needs offense, but it also needs pitching depth, so any move at first base has to fit a broader offseason plan rather than crowd it out. France may not solve everything, but he looks like the kind of practical addition that could make the rest of the puzzle easier to manage. [Read more 🡒]
Jo Adell Just Gave Guardians Fans Another Reason To Love Him
Jo Adells first season with the Guardians gave Cleveland plenty to like beyond the usual trade-deadline buzz. Acquired from the Angels during the 2026 season, Adell settled into a meaningful role and got his first taste of postseason baseball, adding a new layer to a year that already featured a strong offensive finish across 158 games.
The on-field production was only part of the appeal. Adell also marked a major personal milestone in November 2026, when he married Jazmine, giving Guardians fans another reason to feel invested in his story as he heads into the next chapter of his career. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Be Ready To Break From Their Old Offseason Script
The Guardians spent much of 2026 leaning into the kind of roster churn that has long defined them, but the results gave the front office plenty to think about. Several rookies were promoted during the season, and a string of deadline trades helped fuel a run to the American League Central title and a trip to the ALCS, giving Cleveland a more aggressive look than the one it has often carried into past winters.
Now the bigger question is whether that success nudges the club into a different offseason lane. Chris Antonettis front office has signaled a willingness to raise payroll and chase outside help, with reliever Tim Hill among the names mentioned as a possible target. For a team that has usually built around restraint and internal development, even that kind of openness suggests the Guardians may be preparing to break from their old script. [Read more 🡒]