Dodgers' Dave Roberts might have made big mistake in Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that the team met with Shohei Ohtani "a couple days ago," but that comment alone may have an impact on landing the highly sought after free agent superstar. 

Ohtani owns MLB free agency talk, especially at the league’s Winter Meetings in Nashville this week. But the courting of Ohtani by teams that want his once-in-a-lifetime abilities on the mound and in the batter’s box has been mum from prospective clubs. 

That is until Roberts dropped what’s become a bomb in free agent rumors despite it being a simple confirmation that a meeting occurred.

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Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels at third base during the Major League Baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies  on August 28, 2023 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Why? Well, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported earlier this week if Ohtani’s camp caught wind of a meeting with a team going public, he "will hold it against the interested club."

Now, this wasn’t just a rumor from a reporter. The Dodgers’ manager was outright in saying it happened, and added, "I think it went well."

Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes was asked about the meeting due to Roberts’ comments, which he acknowledged, saying, "Dave made a comment." He was reportedly surprised that occurred, but when asked if Roberts’ comments would hurt the team’s pursuit, Gomes was succinct. 

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"I have no idea," he responded.

Roberts explained why he believed his comments about the meeting