Former All-Star pitcher Esteban Loaiza, who earned more than $US43 million ($A60 million) over 14 seasons, is accused of drug dealing involving 20 kilograms of suspected cocaine.
The 46-year-old former Major League Baseball player is scheduled to be arraigned in court in Chula Vista, California, on Wednesday.
Loaiza was arrested on Friday on suspicion of drug smuggling after San Diego County sheriff's officers who pulled him over for a traffic violation found a "sophisticated" compartment used to hide contraband in his vehicle.
Later they obtained a search warrant for the home he rented in the beach community of Imperial Beach, where officials say packages were found containing a white powder believed to be cocaine.
Loaiza played for numerous teams between 1995 and 2008 including the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox.
He had a 21-9 record with Chicago in 2003 and started in the All-Star Game that year.
Investigators say the arrest is part of an on-going narcotics probe but have given few other details about how Loaiza became linked to a case involving the transport and sale of drugs worth an estimated $US500,000, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Department.
It was not immediately known if Loaiza had hired a lawyer and he could not be reached to comment. He was being held for lack of $US200,000 bail pending Wednesday's court appearance.
Born in Tijuana, Loaiza became a celebrity in his native country after marrying late Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera.
The "Diva de la Banda" was considered the most successful female singer in grupero, a male-dominated Mexico regional style, selling more than 15 million records, and acting in reality television before she was killed in a plane crash in 2012.
She filed for divorce shortly before her death, ending their two-year marriage.
Agent, John Boggs, who represented Loaiza during his Major League Baseball career, said he had not seen him in more than a year but had heard he was involved in a business selling Mexican-made hats.
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