Man Tried To Name Drop Ex-Red Sox To Avoid Arrest: Police

BOSTON, MA — Hanley Ramirez is not under federal investigation and his name only came up becasue his friend, who was arrested allegedly with a large amount of fentanyl, tried to use the former Red Sox player's name to get out of trouble, according to court documents reported on by The Boston Globe.

The man's attorney told the Globe that that his client used Ramirez's name “to get the cops off his back, which didn’t work.”

The man, whose name was not published due to safety concerns, was pulled over by State Police in Western Massachusetts in April. The man said he was going to Boston to see a friend who is a pro baseball player. While court documents do not identify the man, the attorney said it was Ramirez.

During a search of the man's vehicle, he claimed that a brown box in the cargo area contained books and belonged to Ramirez. However, when the man reached Ramirez via FaceTime, the former Red Sox said he was not aware that his friend was on his way to Boston with a box of books.

Police allegedly found two kilograms of fentanyl inside the box.

The man was arrested and then stated that Ramirez was not involved.

Adam Katz, Ramirez's agent, blasted "reckless and irresponsible" reporting Sunday after Friday's report from ABC News' Michele McPhee that Ramirez was being eyed in connection with an ongoing state and federal investigation.

"It's unfortunate that one careless, inaccurate story can generate such widespread negative and damaging coverage. Hanley is pleased to be absolved from wrongdoing and having any involvement in this matter."

The Red Sox shocked the baseball world when they essentially cut him in late May. The team said the move was strictly a baseball decision, despite him possessing one of the more feared right-handed bats in the American League when he's locked in. Many speculated they were hoping to avoid paying his expensive contract option for next season.

Since then no team has picked the 34-year-old up, even though he could be had for cheap since the Red Sox are paying him $22 million this year.

Ramirez signed with the Red Sox in 2000 as an international free agent but didn't make his debut with the team until 2005. Following time with the Miami Marlins and L.A. Dodgers, he returned to Boston in 2015.

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