The federal trial of Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz is shaping up to pull in more than just the two men at the center of the case. Court-related documents point to a long list of possible witnesses that includes current players, team executives and league officials, though the actual witness lists are still sealed.
Among the names identified are Guardians general manager Mike Chernoff, assistant general manager Matt Forman, pitching coach Carl Willis and coach/interpreter Agustin Rivero, according to The Athletic. Current and former Cleveland catchers Austin Hedges, Mike Zunino and Bo Naylor are also listed as potential witnesses. All three were involved in receiving pitches that prosecutors say were manipulated as part of the betting scheme, but it is still not known which of them will actually testify.
One notable detail already surfaced in the case: an MLB monitor had originally told Forman that Clase was using his cellphone in the clubhouse during a game, which violated league policy. Forman then reported that incident to MLB.
The league’s involvement goes deeper than that. Quest Meeks, who leads MLB’s policy, integrity and compliance division, is also among the potential witnesses. Meeks previously testified for the prosecution in the federal case involving former Dodgers player Yasiel Puig in January.
Paul Mifsud, MLB’s head baseball operations counsel, is on the list as well. In all, the government identified 42 potential witnesses in proposed jury-selection questions, with the final list still to come later.
At the heart of the trial is a serious financial allegation: prosecutors say bettors in the arrangement made more than $450,000 in profits through wagers tied to Clase’s pitches.
The question the trial will try to answer is straightforward, even if the details are not: did Clase and Ortiz intentionally alter pitches to help bettors cash in, or were the suspicious pitches simply baseball strategy? Both pitchers have pleaded not guilty, and MLB is still waiting on the outcome of its own investigation.
In Other News...
Guardians Have One Prospect Who Could Change Their 2027 Lineup
The Guardians are heading into 2027 with the kind of young talent pipeline that can keep a contender from fading, and Ralphy Velazquez sits near the center of that conversation. After a strong 2026 season built in part on rookie production, Cleveland is looking at prospects who could help carry that momentum forward, and Velazquez has already put together the sort of minor league offensive showing that makes evaluators believe he can bring real power to the lineup.
Jaison Chourio and Khal Stephen are in the mix as well, giving the organization more than one avenue to keep refreshing the roster. Chourio could end up fighting for an outfield job, while Stephen is viewed as a pitching prospect with real upside, but Velazquez is the name that stands out as the one most likely to alter how the Guardians construct their everyday offense when 2027 arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Pitching Duo Just Earned Recognition For Clevelands October Run
Gavin Williams and Cade Smith just added another line to a postseason run that already put them in the spotlight, earning spots on MLBs All-Postseason team for their work in the 2026 playoffs. For Cleveland, it was a fitting nod to a pair of arms that carried a heavy load when the games mattered most, with Williams setting the pace as one of the most dominant starters in the field and Smith handling leverage innings out of the bullpen.
Williams led all postseason pitchers with 33 strikeouts while working to a 2.30 ERA over 15.2 innings, and Smith was nearly as sharp in relief with a 2.38 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 11.1 innings. The recognition underscores how much the Guardians leaned on both pitchers during October, and it also serves as a reminder that Clevelands playoff push was built as much on pitching depth as on any one breakout moment. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Offseason Push Could Hinge On One Contender-Making Trade
The Guardians offseason search for a lineup upgrade is already taking shape around a familiar front-office question: do they chase a proven name, or try to buy into a player whose best years still appear to be ahead? Several possible trade fits have surfaced, including Zach Neto, CJ Abrams, Jeremy Pea, Alec Burleson and Spencer Steer, each offering a different blend of upside, cost control and roster fit. For a club trying to improve for the seasons ahead, the appeal is obvious, especially when the goal is not just adding talent but finding someone who can grow with the core.
What makes the conversation more interesting is how those names line up with Clevelands needs. Some bring shortstop stability, others offer versatility or left-handed pop, and all come with contract situations that could make them more or less attainable. Nothing is close to official, and no deal has been made, but the fact that the Guardians are being linked to this kind of contender-making trade talk says plenty about the level of ambition being considered as the offseason unfolds. [Read more 🡒]