MLB Reinstates Four Pitchers After Yearlong Gambling Suspensions

Four MLB players—Michael Kelly (Oakland Athletics), José Rodríguez (Philadelphia Phillies), Andrew Saalfrank (Arizona Diamondbacks), and Jay Groome (San Diego Padres)—were reinstated Thursday after serving one-year suspensions for betting on baseball, with all wagers reportedly under $1,000 and none placed on games they participated in. Upon reinstatement, Kelly made a successful return to the A's bullpen, helping to end the team's losing streak, while Saalfrank was optioned to the Diamondbacks' Arizona Complex League as he works to regain his form. The Phillies chose to non-tender Rodríguez, making him a free agent despite his prior potential, and Groome was also not offered a contract by the Padres. MLB continues to enforce strict anti-gambling policies for players and staff, even as the league profits from legalized sports betting and related advertising. These cases highlight the league's ongoing efforts to deter gambling among players and maintain the integrity of the game, despite increasing tensions between gambling revenue and policy enforcement.