Dodgers manager Dave Roberts makes hilarious gaffe with potential SF Giants target

The SF Giants are reportedly still in the running for star two-way player Shohei Ohtani. One of the key tenets of recruiting him is to keep all discussions private as it is believed that Ohtani would hold it against any teams who leaked recruiting efforts.

On Tuesday, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made a potentially hilarious gaffe by admitting that his team recently met with Ohtani and that the two-time MVP is their top priority.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts makes hilarious gaffe with potential SF Giants target

No one really knows if Ohtani and his representatives will hold it against teams if leaks are made public. He is one of the more unique players in baseball history, so of course, there is going to be information when he meets with teams.

Nevertheless, teams have been extremely cautious in respecting Ohtani's wishes. Roberts did not necessarily reveal any new information. However, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes was asked about the incident shortly thereafter:

The fact that Gomes had to respond to remarks made by Roberts and admit uncertainty as to whether they hurt the Dodgers' efforts was a mild surprise. The Winter Meetings have been surprisingly quiet, so the Roberts gaffe provided a moment of entertainment.

At the end of the day, this will likely not affect Ohtani's decision, but no one knows for certain. Teams will continue operating in private in their efforts to land the two-way star.

More than likely, this is just a blip in the overall picture. The Dodgers have made Ohtani their top target for well over a year. The Dodgers have been aggressive in free agency in recent years, but they operated way more conservatively last offseason. Some saw this as a sign of creating payroll space to eventually land the left-handed bat.

On the other side of the coin, Ohtani has made Los Angeles his home for the past six seasons. And, many insiders believe that the Dodgers have a legitimate shot at landing him. Of course, the Giants remain in the mix as well but those odds feel steeper.

On a related note, there was some chatter on Tuesday that the Chicago Cubs had no longer been considered a finalist for Ohtani. However, those rumors were not substantiated. The Winter Meetings will come to an end on Wednesday, but the recruiting for Ohtani is likely to extend beyond that.