MLB agent rips 'reckless' reporting after client linked to drug trafficking ring

By Ross Kelly June 25, 2018 at 2:57pm

In April, a friend of Hanley Ramirez dropped the player’s name in an effort to avoid arrest in a drug trafficking ring.

That “friend” soon admitted that Ramirez had no connection to the drugs, but some media outlets still jumped on the story and linked Ramirez to the ongoing investigation into the ring.

Now, Ramirez and his agent are hitting back at those “reckless” reports for damaging his name.

Statement from Hanley Ramirez' agent, Adam Katz, with Hanley's reax to Boston Globe report that Ramirez is not the subject of any criminal investigation — contrary to Friday's reports: pic.twitter.com/kJdLg7fJdj

— Michael Silverman (@MikeSilvermanBB) June 24, 2018

Ramirez’ agent relayed that message to USA Today on Sunday and Ramirez followed it up with a Twitter post of his own Sunday night.

I have been home enjoying my family. Not being on a team has been my choice. Grateful to those of you who resisted spreading the reckless, misleading reports 👀#iSeeYou #loyal #OnlyLoveHere #ElTrece13

— Hanley Ramirez ⚾️ (@HanleyRamirez) June 25, 2018

Per the Boston Globe, the friend who initially name dropped Ramirez also brought his mother into the situation by saying that a box, which contained the drugs, was shipped from her to him so he could deliver it to Ramirez.

When stopped by police, the friend then FaceTimed Ramirez to try to back up his claims, but the baseball player was unaware of what was going on. A Massachusetts state trooper then opened the box, discovered the drugs and arrested Ramirez’s friend.

The man was arrested on drug trafficking charges and “immediately began stating that his friend (Ramirez) was not involved at all, and that the box wasn’t for him,” according to a DEA affidavit.

Will Hanley Ramirez be picked up by another MLB team this season?

Anyone would be upset at being erroneously linked to this investigation, but Ramirez and his agent are rightfully ticked off because they are trying to find a new team for Ramirez. The last thing he wants hanging over his head is any link to a drug trafficking ring.

Ramirez played 44 games with the Red Sox earlier this season before being designated for assignment on May 25.

With a $22.75 million salary for this season, Boston was unable to find a trade partner for Ramirez, so they released him on May 30.

Ramirez was batting a solid .287 on May 17 but finished his Red Sox career by going 0 for his last 21. His OPS of .708 is the lowest of his 13 MLB seasons.

The market has been quiet in recent days as Ramirez’s supposed link to the ring became public, but as recently as June 2 Ken Rosenthal said there was interest from the Baltimore Orioles.

#Orioles have explored possibility of signing Hanley Ramirez, sources tell The Athletic. Level of interest unclear. Also unclear: How Hanley would fit on roster with C. Davis, Trumbo and Alvarez. Duquette signed Hanley originally for #RedSox.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 2, 2018

Apart from this investigation, another reason why Ramirez may not have been signed yet is because his Red Sox contract has a vesting option for 2019. If Ramirez reaches 497 plate appearances this season, he is guaranteed $22 million for next season. So teams may be waiting until later in the season so Ramirez won’t reach that mark.

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