The former Boston Red Sox front-runner Hanley Ramirez has denounced the "reckless" report of his client's alleged link to a drug bust in Massachusetts.

Michele McPhee, Boston-based journalist said on Twitter on Friday that Ramirez was "watched" in an ongoing investigation by state and federal authorities. She said in an interview on the radio that the investigation was related to the seizure of several grams of fentanyl and crack in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Ramirez, however, has never been a target of the investigation, two people with knowledge of the investigation told USA TODAY Sports this weekend. They requested anonymity because prosecutions against individuals accused of drug trafficking remain open.

"The report on Hanley's involvement in this case was reckless and irresponsible, it is unfortunate that an imprudent and imprecise story can generate such negative and damaging coverage," said Adam Katz, the chief executive officer. agent of Ramirez, USA TODAY Sports. "Hanley is happy to be absolved of wrongdoing and to be involved in this case."

Ramirez took on Twitter Sunday night and wrote that he was "grateful to those of you who have withstood the spread of reckless and misleading reports."

A man apprehended by authorities in April, suspected of drug trafficking in Massachusetts, mentioned Ramirez in an attempt to avoid arrest, The Boston Globe reported on Sunday. The suspect told a soldier in the state of Massachusetts that he was about to deliver a box to Ramirez's mother, which was delivered to him in New York.

The soldier spoke to Ramirez, whom the suspect called via FaceTime, and Ramirez gave his consent to search the box, which contained a gift with two kilograms of fentanyl.

The suspect immediately told the police that Ramirez "was not involved at all, and that the box was not for him", according to The Boston Globe.

Ramirez, a free agent, was expected to make $ 22,750,000 this season under a four year agreement until 2018.

Follow A.J. Perez @byajperez and Bob Nightengale @BNightengale on Twitter.