The paper reports a source directly linked to the investigation says Bud Selig has directed Major League Baseball executive vice president Rob Manfred to contact everyone involved in the trade to the Dodgers for individual accounts of how the transaction unfolded.

Ramirez became a disruptive force to the team in the days and weeks leading up to the trade deadline, apparently in hopes of forcing a trade.

When the trade to L.A. was reached, the Globe reported that Scott Boras called the Red Sox and said Ramirez would stay and play hard for the rest of the season if the team would agree to drop two $20 million option years at the end of his deal.

Boras denied making any such call, telling the paper: "In no way did I make a call regarding having the trade intervened with. My job is to do what is best for my client. It was Boston's decision to trade him. He had the ability to control where he played. He wanted his living environment to be a place where he and his family were as comfortable as they were in Cleveland."

Boras, who took over representing Ramirez after he had already signed his deal with the Red Sox and therefore saw none of that money, would have obvious finiancial incentive to see him become a free agent.

According to the report, Manfred has yet to report back to Selig.