Investigative reporter Michelle McPhee broke the story last night that ex-Boston Red Sox player Hanley Ramirez is allegedly linked to a drug trafficking investigation.

About a month ago, Ramirez was designated for assignment, which means the team has to eat his entire $15 million guaranteed salary,  in the midst of a slump for the stated reason to give the team more lineup flexibility and versatility. Ramirez was one of a few  batters that was effective against left-handed pitching, however.

Ramirez recorded a .341 batting average in April but dropped to .163 in May as the hitter in the three hole.

The subtext of the decision was the team supposedly sought to avoid the 2019 contract vesting option which would have been automatic for Hanley after 497 plate appearances this season.

Apparently rumors about the first baseman/DH were swirling in the Boston sports media, but the Red Sox insist that they were unaware of any ongoing investigation. The MLB star’s agent also says his client doesn’t know anything about the allegations.

Michelle McPhee discussed the allegations against Hanley Ramirez on Boston radio station the Sports Hub last night, MLB Trade Rumors reported.

“McPhee, a veteran crime reporter, explained in an appearance on Boston’s 98.5 The Sports Hub that a man (not Ramirez) was found by police to be carrying in his vehicle a large volume of drugs — specifically, fentanyl and crack cocaine. She continued to report that the man, who was later arrested and charged, “claimed that one of the items found in the vehicle belonged to Hanley Ramirez and then FaceTimed [Ramirez] in front of police.’ The suspect is evidently also linked to a broader Lawrence, Massachusetts fentanyl ring that has been the subject of a significant, ongoing investigation.”

McPhee claims that the car stop occurred around the time that the BoSox DFA’d Ramirez.

Although Hanley Ramirez is an unrestricted free agent, no MLB team has signed him, which seems odd since many squads could benefit from some additional offense on their roster. Moreover, they would only have to pay him the pro-rated MLB minimum for his services.

Does it make any sense that a professional athlete who is financially set for life would get involved in alleged drug trafficking?

As this is a developing story, please check back for updates.

Update: According to the Boston Globe, Hanley Ramirez was the victim of a name-dropper and is in the clear.

“A friend of former Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez dropped his name in an effort to avoid arrest while transporting fentanyl from New York to Massachusetts in April, then immediately admitted the player had no connection to the drugs, according to documents filed in US District Court in Boston.

“Ramirez is not under federal investigation and has not been linked to any drug ring, according to several people with direct knowledge of the case. The 34-year-old has been a free agent since the Red Sox released him on June 1.

“An attorney, who represents the man arrested with the drugs and spoke on the condition that his client not be named because of concerns about his safety, said his client grew up in the Dominican Republic with Ramirez and used his name “to get the cops off his back, which didn’t work.'”

https://twitter.com/BostonGlobe/status/1011137433465913344

In a tweet that alluded to “reckless, misleading reports,”  Hanley Ramirez explained that he has decided against signing with another MLB team this season.

Noting that the Globe and the Red Sox have common ownership, Turtleboy Sports has a provocative take on the matter.