A-Rod attorney denies attacking Ortiz

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is one of the few major league players to voice support for Alex Rodriguez in recent months.

Ortiz took Rodriguez out for dinner in Boston late last season after the controversial Yankees third baseman was mercilessly booed at Fenway Park. Ortiz even criticized teammate Ryan Dempster for throwing at Rodriguez.

In December, Ortiz invited Rodriguez to his charity event in the Dominican Republic.

So much for that goodwill. On Tuesday, Rodriguez's lead attorney seemed to cast aspersions on Ortiz during an interview with ESPN Radio.

Joe Tacopina said he would not name other players accused of using performance-enhancing drugs, "but some of them are God-like in Boston right now."

The host, Colin Cowherd, did not challenge Tacopina's accusation.

In 2009, the New York Times reported that Ortiz tested positive for an unnamed substance during a 2003 survey test.

Rodriguez was suspended for the entire 2014 season for using PEDs and obstructing an investigation into his use. On Monday, he sued Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association in federal court in an attempt to overturn the ban.

The suit went so far as to criticize MLBPA executive director Michael Weiner, who died in November after a long battle with cancer. Now Ortiz is an apparent target of his legal team.

During the ESPN Radio interview, Tacopina referred to Rodriguez as an "outstanding human being."

Copyright: Peter Abraham, Globe Staff - boston