Ramirez reportedly eyed in fentanyl distribution ring

Former Red Sox star Hanley Ramirez is being “eyed” over his potential connection with an ongoing federal and Massachusetts state investigation regarding the distribution of fentanyl, according to ABC News' Michele McPhee.

McPhee explained on Boston radio station WAAF that a person was recently pulled over while carrying 435 grams of the substance and told authorities Ramirez was somehow connected to the drugs.

Ramirez hasn't been on an MLB ros- ter since he was released by the Red Sox on June 1. The team's VP of Media Relations,

Kevin Gregg, told the Boston Globe on Friday that getting rid of Ramirez was strictly “a baseball decision.”

“The Red Sox are unaware of any investigation involving Hanley Ramirez,” the Globe reported.

Boston only discovered Ramirez was being investigated after a reporter reached out to the team for comment, according to MassLive.com. — Nicholas Parco

JAYS’ CLOSER BANNED 75 GAMES

Toronto Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna has agreed to a suspension through Aug. 4 under baseball's domestic violence policy, discipline that will cause him to miss about half of the season.

Osuna has not pitched since May 6, two days before he was put on administrative leave when he was charged with one count of assault in Toronto.

Major League Baseball said the suspension is retroactive to May 8 and covers 75 games. Osuna will wind up missing 89 days, which would cost him about $2.54 million of his $5.3 million salary. Osuna will participate in a confidential and comprehensive evaluation and treatment program supervised by the joint policy board of MLB and the players' association.

SJU AD QUITS

Anton Goff, the athletic director at St. John's since late 2016, announced his immediate resignation Friday afternoon, citing family reasons for his departure. Kathleen Meehan, the associate vice president for athletics and senior women's administrator, will serve as the interim director of athletics. — Kevin Armstrong