Senators demand answers from MLB on how it's addressing 'threats to baseball’s integrity'

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Senate lawmakers sent a missive to MLB Commissioner demanding answers connected however the league "is addressing alleged crippled manipulation and threats to baseball’s integrity."

The Senate Commerce Committee, led by Chairman Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Ranking Member Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., sent the missive to Manfred connected Monday much than a week aft Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted implicit their alleged roles successful a gambling scheme.

Cruz and Cantwell besides addressed questions to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver aft 3 figures successful the league were arrested for their roles successful abstracted schemes.

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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred opens the MLB Draft astatine The Coca-Cola Roxy connected July 13, 2025. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)

In the letter, the lawmakers pointed to the lawsuit of erstwhile Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Tucupita Marcano. He was banned for beingness for placing astir 400 bets connected shot games. MLB said astatine the clip that 25 bets progressive wagers connected Pirates games portion Marcano was connected the roster. The Pirates said determination was "no evidence" of games being compromised.

"Which raises the question: however did MLB drawback Marcano and prohibition him for beingness but failed to announcement Clase allegedly rigging pitches for 2 years? The integrity of the crippled is paramount. MLB has each involvement successful ensuring shot is escaped from power and manipulation," the missive read. "As Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, we stock that interest. But successful airy of these caller developments, MLB indispensable intelligibly show however it is gathering its work to safeguard America’s pastime. To that end, arsenic elaborate below, we petition that MLB supply documents and accusation connected however it is addressing the allegations against Clase and Ortiz, arsenic good arsenic its broader attack to preventing manipulation successful the sport.

"An isolated incidental of crippled rigging mightiness beryllium dismissed arsenic an aberration, but the emergence of manipulation crossed aggregate leagues suggests a deeper, systemic vulnerability. These developments warrant thorough scrutiny by Congress earlier misconduct issues go much widespread."

The committee is asking for responses to six questions by Dec. 5.

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Emmanuel Clase successful a divided photograph with Luis Ortiz

Emmanuel Clase, left, and Luis Ortiz, were indicted successful a national gambling probe connected Nov. 9, 2025. (IMAGN)

"How and erstwhile was MLB made alert of suspicious betting and crippled manipulation enactment by Emmanuel Clase oregon Luis Ortiz? Provide documents capable to enactment your response?
"Provide documents capable to amusement MLB’s policies and procedures relating to sports betting, gambling, oregon crippled rigging by MLB oregon an affiliated team’s players, coaches, employees, oregon owners.
"List immoderate probe into an MLB oregon affiliate team’s players, coaches, employees, oregon owners for violating MLB rules relating to sports betting, gambling, oregon crippled rigging oregon related transgression behaviour betwixt January 1, 2020, and the present.
"Provide each documents related to immoderate probe listed successful effect to Request 3, including:"Procedures and policies utilized to behaviour immoderate applicable investigation;"Documents received by 3rd parties oregon different collected by MLB during immoderate applicable investigation; and"Findings, conclusions, and actions taken arsenic a effect of immoderate applicable investigation.
"Procedures and policies utilized to behaviour immoderate applicable investigation;
"Documents received by 3rd parties oregon different collected by MLB during immoderate applicable investigation; and
"Findings, conclusions, and actions taken arsenic a effect of immoderate applicable investigation.
"Provide communications betwixt MLB and immoderate sports betting level oregon sports gambling integrity show regarding suspicious oregon flagged sports wagers:"Placed by MLB’s oregon an affiliated team’s players, coaches, employees, oregon owners; or"Placed connected MLB games oregon propositions related to MLB games, players, oregon teams.
"Placed by MLB’s oregon an affiliated team’s players, coaches, employees, oregon owners; or
"Placed connected MLB games oregon propositions related to MLB games, players, oregon teams.
"Explain the grade to which MLB has addressed and plans to further code the alleged instances of sports betting, gambling, and crippled rigging that person occurred including:"How, if astatine all, MLB plans to revise its rules, policies, procedures, oregon enforcement structure;"How, if astatine all, MLB plans to revise oregon enforce its rules relating to cellphone usage during games; and"How MLB plans to guarantee players, employees, coaches, and owners bash not person ties to organized crime."
"How, if astatine all, MLB plans to revise its rules, policies, procedures, oregon enforcement structure;
"How, if astatine all, MLB plans to revise oregon enforce its rules relating to cellphone usage during games; and
"How MLB plans to guarantee players, employees, coaches, and owners bash not person ties to organized crime."

Fox News Digital reached retired to MLB for comment.

Clase and Ortiz were arrested and appeared successful national tribunal successful New York past week.

Clase, a three-time All-Star, pleaded not blameworthy to charges that helium took bribes to assistance gamblers triumph wealth connected his pitches. Ortiz besides pleaded not blameworthy to the charges.