CLEVELAND, Ohio — The relationship between the Cleveland Guardians and All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase has deteriorated to a new low, as the team recently denied him permission to pitch in the Venezuelan winter league. This latest development, discussed during Friday’s episode of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, highlights the growing rift between the organization and its closer as MLB’s gambling investigation drags into the offseason.

When Venezuela’s winter league inquired about Clase’s availability, the Guardians shut the door — and for multiple reasons that reveal just how fractured the relationship has become.

“One reason was the investigation into Clase and teammate Luis Ortiz on the gambling allegations is still going on,” explained cleveland.com beat reporter Paul Hoynes on th

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