Brad Paisley stood at his door as the cars arrived, holding a glass of his most expensive bourbon, Pappy Van Winkle 23, in each hand.

One for Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. One for president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.

“I have a feeling you guys need these tonight,” the country-music star said

Paisley, an avid Dodgers fan, had invited a group of team officials to a barn at his 100-acre farm in Nashville. The barn houses a recording studio, a kitchen, bedrooms and a bar. Oh, what a bar.

On that night in early December, Paisley’s intention was to give Dodgers people a place to unwind away from the hustle and bustle of baseball’s Winter Meetings in Nashville. Earlier that day, Roberts told reporters the team had met with prized free agent Shohei Ohtani. Roberts’ seemingly innocent revelation created a stir. Or, as Paisley put it, “DEFCON 1.”

In mid-November, ESPN reported, “If visits between Ohtani and a team are reported publicly, it will be held against the team.” Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, later pushed back on that report, saying he never warned teams that directly. But every club involved in the bidding knew of Ohtani’s desire to keep the process confidential.

Friedman did not know if Roberts’ remarks would negatively impact the Dodgers’ efforts to sign Ohtani. But he could not rule out the possibility. Later that day, he spoke with Roberts. Both men remain unwilling to divulge much of that conversation. Roberts still bristles that his disclosure became an issue at all.

“I was Captain Obvious,” Roberts said. “And it just blew up into something that I couldn’t believe.”

Paisley, a self-described baseball nut who hosted the draft lottery at the Winter Meetings, was well-aware of the budding controversy. As he prepared for the arrival of his guests at around 7 p.m., not knowing Friedman and Roberts had spoken, Paisley wanted to break the tension. Pappy Van Winkle, he figured, would do the trick.

“You have no idea how much I need this right now,” Paisley recalled Roberts telling him.

The scene at the doorstep was just one of many eventful turns during the Dodgers’ wild, $1.4 billion offseason.