CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians find themselves in an unprecedented situation heading into the 2026 season, with the legal troubles of two pitchers effectively placing the organization’s financial planning into a state of suspended animation.

In a court proceeding this week in the Eastern District of New York, dates were set for the trial of Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, with jury selection beginning May 4 and the trial expected to last approximately two weeks. This timeline creates a complicated situation for the Guardians’ front office as they navigate the offseason.

“That’s well into the second month of the season,” Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com Guardians beat reporter explained on the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast.

The extended timeline has significant implications for the Guardians

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