LIDOM: Clase Throwing, Sano Looking Sharp In Estrellas Camp; Valdez Ready To Help Young Pitchers With Licey

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, who remains on paid administrative leave in Major League Baseball, is in camp with LIDOM’s Estrellas Orientales in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

Cleveland #Guardians RHP Emmanuel Clase (Currently on administrative leave) throwing a bullpen session today for his club Estrellas Orientales getting ready for the upcoming LIDOM season.

Video – Marcos Morales on Instagram#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/wYwzhohGM2

— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) October 3, 2025

A veteran of six MLB seasons, Clase has thrown 360 innings in 366 appearances with Cleveland and the Texas Rangers, all but one of them coming in relief, with an ERA of 1.88 and 349 strikeouts against 70 walks. He was extraordinarily dominant in 2024, posting a 0.67 ERA in 74 1/3 innings across 74 appearances with an ERA+ of 667.

He previously pitched in LIDOM for the Estrellas in 2019-20 and 2020-21, appearing in seven games in 2019-20 and one game the next season, posting a 1.13 ERA in eight innings. The two stints with the Estrellas were sandwiched around Clase’s 2020 season, which was lost to an 80-game suspension for performance enhancing drugs after the hard-throwing righty tested positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid.

Clase, along with Guardians starter Jose Ortiz, were placed on non-disciplinary paid leave amid an investigation into proposition bets made on individual pitches thrown by Ortiz in the second inning of a June 15 start against the Seattle Mariners and the third inning of a June 27 start against the St. Louis Cardinals, according to multiple media reports. In both instances, unusual betting activity wagering that Ortiz would throw a ball or hit a batter with the first pitch of each of the innings in question. In both instances, Ortiz threw sliders that were well out of the strike zone.

Ortiz was placed on leave on July 3, while Clase was placed on leave on July 28. Their leave was extended on Aug. 31, and thus neither pitcher appeared in the postseason for Cleveland.

Ordinarily, players who are on the various MLB inactive lists are unable to play in winter leagues without the permission of the Commissioner as well as their MLB club and they are a native of the country where the winter league plays. Clase is a native of Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic, though it is unknown whether or not he obtained permission as there is currently no Winter League Agreement in place.

Miguel Sano Looking Good – Former Minnesota Twin and Los Angeles Angel Miguel Sano looks to be ready for the winter season, according to Estrellas Orientales manager Fernando Tatis Sr.

“He’s ready to play, if the tournament started tomorrow,” Tatis said in a post on the Estrellas’ X account. “He will be our cleanup hitter. He’s hit some monstrous home runs in live practices.”

Last season, Sano battled illness during the winter season, appearing in just 19 games before missing time with a stomach bug. He returned during the round robin playoff looking gaunt, and didn’t produce much.

Tatis, though, has seen good things from Sano thus far, noting that he’s hit several balls out of Estadio Tetelo Vargas in live batting practice.

????⚾ Con la mira puesta en lo grande.
Miguel Sanó comparte cómo vive su preparación y lo que espera lograr en esta nueva temporada con las Estrellas ⭐.

Trabajo, enfoque y hambre de victoria desde el primer día en el Tetelo Vargas. ????????#EntrenamientosEO #PorqueVamosAGanar pic.twitter.com/NiQHawgLW1

— EOBASEBALLCLUB (@EOBASEBALLCLUB) September 17, 2025

Sano did not play in the summer of 2025.

Veteran Cesar Valdez Back For More With Licey – At 40 years old, Cesar Valdez is four years removed from his last MLB appearance. But he remains effective pitching in Latin America, and is back for another season of winter ball in his native Santo Domingo with the Tigres del Licey.

He relishes the role of the veteran he’s taken on, and looks forward to imparting the wisdom he’s gained from his experiences as a professional on the next generation of Tigres.

“I think it’s important for us, as veterans just starting out, to always be here from day one, because it inspires the young guys to be here early too. And the advice they’re given is to keep working hard, keep working hard, and never give up,” Valdez to the LIDOM website at Tigres’ training camp.

Valdez said he changed his diet and lost weight over the summer while pitching with the Leones de Yucatan of the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol and noted that he feels as though he’s in better condition.

“Last year, I was a little overweight. I’ve been a little overweight the last few years, and I could feel it from my back, from rest, from fatigue. And I decided to try to get in better shape. Halfway through the Mexico season, I started dieting, and we’re at a good weight,” he said to LIDOM.com.

““I went to Mexico at 246 pounds, which was my weight here last season. I reacted and told myself I couldn’t be like this. In Mexico, I struggled a lot in the first half of the season. After that, I made changes, a healthy diet, and worked on my physique. I finished very well, and I think I have to keep it up to get good results.”

Valdez will begin his 16th winter ball campaign this month, having played 13 seasons with Licey in LIDOM, as well as with the Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico’s LBPRC and for the Bravos de Margarita and Aguilas del Zulia in the Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional, with a career ERA of 2.93 in 527 2/3 innings. He has appeared in seven Caribbean Series, six representing the Dominican Republic and one representing Venezuela, winning titles in 2021 with the Aguilas Cibaenas and 2023 with the Tigres del Licey.

Photo: Estrellas Orientales’ Miguel Sano reacts after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning against the Cardenales de Lara during the Choque De Gigantes baseball tournament, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)