Former Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, who is facing federal charges for his alleged involvement in a pitch-rigging scheme, owes about $700,000 in unpaid taxes, according to the U.S. government.
The three-time All-Star has been charged with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sports contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy.
“Clase had accrued a significant unpaid tax liability for tax years 2022 and 2023 of approximately $500,000 to the (Internal Revenue Service),” the government stated in a legal filing on Wednesday. “Clase further owed over $178,000 in an unpaid tax liability for 2024, as well as several thousands of dollars to state authorities in outstanding taxes.”
The filing said Clase has set up a payment plan with the IRS.
Clase, 28, allegedly rigged 18 pitches over three seasons from 2023 to 2025.
Clase and Cleveland teammate Luis Ortiz and a third defendant, Robinson Vasquez, who has also been charged in the case, have been in federal court since Nov. 3 in the Eastern District of New York. All three have pleaded not guilty.
Wednesday’s filing came as a response to Clase’s attorneys arguing that he lacked financial motivation to participate in the alleged scheme.
According to the government’s motion, the information about Clase’s tax liability was received on Oct. 26 from business records produced by an unnamed accountant. But the documentation was precluded from trial evidence by the presiding judge four days later since it became available only a week before the trial commenced.
Clase signed a five-year, $20 million contract with the Guardians in April 2022.
