bookmaker

But the federal criminal probe that targeted Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, his Orange County-based bookmaker — and cleared Ohtani of any wrongdoing — is ongoing, even as MLB has been forced to deal with more forbidden gambling.

MLB prohibits players and other employees from betting on any sport with an illegal bookmaker.

Mizuhara then told the gathering that Ohtani had paid off the bookmaker for him.

Like Ohtani’s outside advisers, the Dodgers apparently took Mizuhara’s word about Ohtani — the claim that he funneled millions of dollars to an illegal bookmaker.

“Hey Ippie, it’s 2 o’clock on Friday,” Bookmaker 1 texted in November 2023.