The Cleveland Guardians will not grant permission for suspended closer Emmanuel Clase to pitch in the Venezuelan winter league, according to a report by The Athletic.

Major League Baseball and its players association placed Clase on leave July 28 amid an ongoing sports betting investigation. It followed a suspension on July 3 for fellow Guardians right-hander Luis Ortiz.

The suspensions were extended at the end of August and neither pitched for the remainder of the season.

Clase, 27, was looking to pitch in Venezuela after his home country of the Dominican Republic barred him from pitching for the Estrellas Orientales this offseason. Clase in turn filed a lawsuit against the Dominican league and its president, Vitelio Mejia, according to The Athletic.

Clase then attempted to hook on wi

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