He left the Angels and signed with the Dodgers this winter for $700 million, yet his pristine image and worldwide popularity could not insulate him from the news reports last week that his name was linked to more than $4.5 million in payments to Orange County resident Mathew Bowyer, an alleged illegal bookmaker who reportedly is the target of a federal investigation.

In an initial interview with ESPN, Mizuhara said the money — the amounts of which allegedly were transferred to a Bowyer associate from Ohtani’s account — was used to pay off his own gambling debts.

Less than 24 hours later, Mizuhara changed his story, telling ESPN that Ohtani had no knowledge of his gambling debts nor had he transferred money to Bowyer’s associate.

Mizuhara was then accused of “massive theft” by the West Hollywood law firm Berk Brettler, which represents Ohtani, and the interpreter was fired.

It’s important to note that neither Mizuhara, Ohtani nor Bowyer has been charged with any crimes. Also, none of the alleged bets are believed to have involved baseball games, and nobody has accused Ohtani of placing any bets himself.

Still, it’s a bad look for Ohtani to have his name linked to an alleged illegal bookmaker, and it becomes more problematic with Mizuhara suddenly changing his story about Ohtani’s involvement. As the summer passes, the story may fade, but Ohtani likely will be haunted by speculation indefinitely.

The Dodgers already were a magnet for intense media scrutiny, with dozens of reporters chronicling Ohtani’s every move. This latest news will make the atmosphere even more distracting and difficult for a team that, despite its starry roster, still has proved nothing.

Remember, these are many of the same guys who have spent the last two Octobers flat on their backs. Roberts thinks if there’s one thing that can overcome the distractions, it’s their determination to change that narrative.

“Guys are really obsessed with winning a championship this year. This is as determined of a group as I saw in 2020,” Roberts said, referring to his title team of the pandemic season. “We’re starting the season with a chip on our shoulder and an obsessive mind-set.”

That obsession will focus around a historic lineup led by Mookie Betts, Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. It’s the first time in 41 years that three former MVPs have batted consecutively at the top of the order.

They are followed by slugging Will Smith and Muncy and newcomer Teoscar Hernández and rookie star James Outman and finally big-swinging Gavin Lux. And don’t forget Kiké Hernández, who is back on the bench for his eighth Dodgers season, seven years after hitting three home runs in a National League Championship Series game against the Chicago Cubs.

You see? Bottomless batting order. No breaks. No rest. Maybe the Dodgers’ deepest lineup ever.

The problem could be, they also have to field and pitch.

Muncy is obviously still an issue at third base, and new shortstop Betts will have to work overtime to master a position he had played for all of 16 major league games before this season. Even Lux, whose move to second base nudged Betts to shortstop, still can bounce throws from there.

The starting pitching is just as shaky, with brittle opening-day starter Tyler Glasnow infamous for having never exceeded 120 innings in nine major league seasons, and Yamamoto immediately raising questions about the Japanese star’s ability to adjust to the major leagues.

“That’s not him,” was the Dodgers’ refrain after his debut meltdown last week, but really, how does anybody yet know who he is?

Then there’s newly acquired starter James Paxton, who fits right in by not having reached 100 innings in the last four years. The rotation also will feature kids Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone and, well, you know kids.

Yeah, Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw are coming back from surgeries, but who knows when, and who knows how they’ll look?

The rotation, which was one of the worst in baseball at the end of last season, is so wobbly, the traditionally problematic Dodgers bullpen is their pitching strength. One could watch four veterans shut down the Padres in four scoreless innings in the opener and think, hey, this could work. Ryan Brasier, Daniel Hudson, Joe Kelly, Evan Phillips … yeah, that makes sense.

Everything the Dodgers did during this Brink’s Truck of an offseason makes sense.

Until it doesn’t.

Prepare to be utterly amazed, or incredibly devastated, or both.

“They’re not being denied this year,” Roberts promised. “The message is, nothing is going to stand in our way.”

Truly, nothing can stop these Dodgers.

Except these Dodgers.

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