Major League Baseball, in agreement with the players union, has moved Guardians pitchers Emmanual Clase and Luis L. Ortiz to unpaid non-disciplinary leave, effective immediately, as the two are schedule to begin trial in November on multiple conspiracy charges related to pitch-fixing, which could result in decades in prison, if convicted, Both men have pled not guilt on all counts. The two had perviously been on paid non-disciplinary leave.

"As the legal proceedings involving Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz continue to move forward, MLB and the MLBPA have agreed that both players will remain on non-disciplinary leave from the Club without pay until further notice," an MLB statement said. "This agreement is not an admission of any wrongdoing by Clase or Ortiz. MLB has been closely monitoring the matter since alerting federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and will have no further comment until its investigation has been completed."

My take: This is not good for either player. For the league to do this long before legal proceedings play out means that the evidence is overwhelming, especially for the union to agree.