Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has admitted to meeting with free agent Shohei Ohtani.

“He’s a top priority for us, and I met with him a couple days ago at (home) Dodger Stadium,” Roberts said, according to MLB.com, ESPN and others.

Ohtani, a two-hitter, is one of the biggest names in Major League Baseball (MLB) free agency this winter. The Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, and Toronto Blue Jays, as well as his former team, are reportedly in the mix. Among them, the Dodgers are considered the strongest contender.

However, little is known about the negotiation process. Officials from San Francisco and Toronto were believed to have met with Ohtani, but the clubs declined to comment.

Local media outlets even reported that “there was a warning from (Ohtani’s agent) 카지노사이트킴 that leaking information about the negotiations could lower the chances of signing him.”

In the meantime,

Roberts went public with the meeting, saying, “I don’t want to lie.” MLB.com noted that “Roberts’ candor was remarkable.”

“I met with Ohtani and we talked for about two to three hours,” Roberts said. No other players were in the room. It was a pleasure to spend time with him,” Roberts said of the meeting.

Ohtani, who has worn an underdog Angels uniform since breaking into the big leagues in 2018, could be an attractive addition to the “strong” Dodgers. The Dodgers are a powerhouse, having won the National League (NL) West in 10 of the last 11 years.

“He had a lot of questions for us, and he wanted to get more information,” Roberts said, adding that the meeting with Ohtani was a way for the two sides to become more familiar with each other.

It remains to be seen if Ohtani’s heart will ultimately be set on the Dodgers. 안전놀이터 Roberts said, “I don’t know when he’s going to make a decision. I hope it’s in the near future,” Roberts said.