UPDATE: According to Michele McPhee of ABC News, Hanley Ramirez is being investigated in relation to a potential drug ring. McPhee reported that a contact of Ramirez was stopped with “435 grams of fentanyl as well as a large amount of crack cocaine. The driver of the vehicle contacted Ramirez in front of police.
From an appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub:
“There has been some reports about a FaceTime phone call that was made between a man during a car stop. After that car stop, police recovered a significant amount of drugs. And during that car stop, the suspect claimed that one of the items found in the vehicle belonged to Hanley Ramirez and then FaceTimed [Ramirez] in front of police. And that car stop coordinated with the timing of his release from the Red Sox.”
McPhee reported that the suspect who was pulled over — a person who was not Ramirez — was found with “435 grams of fentanyl as well as a large amount of crack cocaine.”
“There is a sweeping federal case involving a substantial ring that’s being operated out of Lawrence, Massachusetts,” McPhee said. “And I think the suspect had ties to that ring.”
Former Boston Red Sox infielder Hanley Ramirez could soon be facing some legal issues, according to reports and rumors that are making the rounds in Boston sports media circles. While details are vague, it appears that some big news surrounding the 34-year-old could soon be made public.
According to Michele McPhee of ABC News, Ramirez is “being eyed in connection with an ongoing federal and state investigation.”
No further details have been made available at this time.
https://twitter.com/MicheleMcPhee/status/1010274057797939206
Other members of the Boston media have also hinted that there is some serious news close to dropping.
https://twitter.com/kirkmin/status/1010260507411009536
https://twitter.com/IAmJamesStewart/status/1010262576188489729
Ramirez’s agent, Adam Katz, denied any knowledge of an investigation when speaking with FOX Sports.
“Hanley has no knowledge of any of the allegations contained in this media report and he is not aware of any investigation,” Katz told Ken Rosenthal.
The Boston Red Sox have also denied that any potential investigation led to the decision to release Ramirez earlier this month.
From Alex Speier of the Boston Globe:
Red Sox VP of media relations Kevin Gregg says that the Red Sox are unaware of any investigation involving Hanley Ramirez. Another ML source familiar with the team’s thinking seconded that, and reiterated that the decision to release him was “a baseball decision.”
Ramirez was born in the Dominican Republic and has been in the MLB since 2005.
Ramirez was released by the Red Sox on June 1 after being designated for assignment on May 25. He was batting .254 on the season and has yet to generate any interest from teams around the league since his release. The reported link to the ongoing federal and state investigation could be playing a major factor in why Ramirez remains a free agent.
This is a developing story. More information will be added as soon as it becomes available.
