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Rosenthal: How Cody Bellinger deal could impact Scott Boras' other top free-agent clients

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Rosenthal: How Cody Bellinger deal could impact Scott Boras' other top free-agent clients

This can’t be what Scott Boras wanted. And now that the first of the Boras Four, Cody Bellinger, has reached agreement on a lesser contract than expected, it might only embolden the teams pursuing Boras’ other top free-agent clients to hold the line.

The opt-outs in Bellinger’s reported three-year, $80 million free-agent agreement with the Chicago Cubs give him the chance to return to the open market next offseason. Perhaps then he will land a deal closer to what some projected for him – six years, $162 million by The Athletic’s Tim Britton, 12 years, $264 million by MLBTradeRumors.com.

Carlos Correa followed such a path, opting out of his initial three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Minnesota Twins to land a six-year, $200 million deal. He would have done even better, too, if the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets had not cited issues with his physical to back out of $300 million-plus deals.

Other Boras clients – Adrían Beltré, Dallas Keuchel and Mike Moustakas – also took lesser contracts initially, then made up most or all of the difference later. But to get such a deal, Bellinger will need to prove himself again. And he thought he had done that last season, finishing 10th in the National League MVP voting and winning NL Comeback Player of the Year.

His average annual value of $26.67 million ranks 37th all-time, just below Freddie Freeman and Carlos Rodón, both of whom are at $27 million.. But Bellinger is entering his age 28 season, just as another Boras client, Corey Seager, was when he landed a 10-year, $325 million with the Texas Rangers two offseasons ago.

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Seager was a shortstop, helping his value. He also had been 2016 NL Rookie of the Year and 2020 World Series MVP. On the other hand, he was coming off a season in which he played only 95 games because of a fractured right hand. His previous team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, questioned whether he could stay at shortstop. Others wondered about his long-term durability.


Bellinger won the NL Comeback Player of the Year in 2023 with the Cubs. (Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Bellinger, a center fielder and first baseman, was the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year and 2019 MVP. He produced a much better platform season than Seager, at least on the surface. But his .307 batting average, 26 home runs and .881 OPS were built on an average exit velocity that exceeded only one out of five major leaguers. Teams were not convinced that Bellinger’s bounceback was sustainable, that he had fully overcome the struggles of his injury-marred 2021 and ‘22 seasons.

Part of Bellinger’s problem was that he entered a surprisingly tepid market. His options were limited in part by the reduced spending by high-payroll clubs such as the Mets and Padres and uncertainty a number of teams faced in their future local television revenues. So often, Boras has identified – and exploited – at least one team that was ready to spend. Other than the Dodgers, who opted for non-Boras alternatives, no such team emerged this offseason.

Rival agents and some club officials will question whether Boras overplayed his hand, not just with Bellinger but also the other members of the Boras Four – left-handers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery and third baseman Matt Chapman. Boras’ initial expectations for Bellinger are not known, but it’s reasonable to ask: What if he had aimed lower? Could he have secured four years, $120 million? Five years, $145 million? An even longer deal with a lower AAV?

Now that Bellinger’s terms are public, it would not be surprising for Snell, Montgomery and Chapman to settle for similar “bridge” contracts. San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, whose team could use one of the pitchers as well as Chapman, does not figure to budge in his staredown with Boras. Other clubs also could be less likely to relent.

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Boras can blame the regression in the market, lament the clubs in financial retreat and point to the flexibility Bellinger retains over his future. Bellinger, to be sure, will be fine. Two years ago, the Dodgers non-tendered him. Boras since has banked him $97.5 million in guaranteed money, bringing his career earnings to nearly $150 million. And Bellinger still stands a chance of getting a monster deal for him after this season or next.

Fair enough. The game isn’t over. But if you told Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer at the start of the offseason he would sign Bellinger for three years and $80 million, how do you think he would have reacted? With a smile wider than Lake Michigan. The smile he is wearing today.

(Top photo: Matt Dirksen/Getty Images)

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Prep talk: The Shaws enjoy a memorable basketball moment at Oak Park

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Prep talk: The Shaws enjoy a memorable basketball moment at Oak Park

Sometimes it can be difficult when a high school coach also has his son on the team, but then there are those unforgettable moments that make every second spent together magical. Such a moment happened on Friday night for Oak Park basketball coach Aaron Shaw and his son, sophomore guard Grant Shaw.

Grant made a three-pointer from beyond the top of the key as the buzzer sounded to give host Oak Park a 54-51 win over rival Agoura.

Then, for some unknown reason at the time, Grant ran in the opposite direction, followed by his teammates and delirious Oak Park fans. There were so many people celebrating he ended up pushed into the gym foyer.

Watching from the bench was his father, who didn’t understand why his son was headed out of the gym. “The coaches were asking, ‘Where is he going?’” he said.

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It turns out the surge of people celebrating forced Grant into the foyer. His father reminded him afterward to perhaps next time stay in the gym.

But make no mistake about, Aaron has won two Southern Section titles as a coach, and this moment ranks up among the best.

“Proud dad moment,” he said.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

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Navy tops Army with late touchdown as Trump’s attendance in Baltimore sparks protests

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Navy tops Army with late touchdown as Trump’s attendance in Baltimore sparks protests

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For the second year in a row, the Navy Midshipmen have won the Commander-in-Chief Trophy.

The Midshipmen earned a gutsy 17-16 victory over Army in one of the greatest rivalries in sports.

Navy got out to a scorching-hot start, as they scored a touchdown on their first drive, with Blake Horvath rushing for 45 of the 75 yards on the drive and running in for the score. He also had an 11-yard pass.

 

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President Donald Trump greets players after the coin toss and before the start of the 126th Army-Navy Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at M&T Bank Stadium, Saturday, in Baltimore, Md. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Army, though, answered right back with an identical drive, going 13 plays for 75 yards — this one ended with Cale Hellums punching one in.

Navy’s offense was stalled for a long while after, as their next three drives ended in a punt, fumble, and interception. In the meantime, the Black Knights were able to tack on three more field goals to go up, 16-7. Late in the third, the Midshipmen finally added more points on the scoreboard with a field goal that cut their deficit to three.

Early in the fourth, Navy forced an Army interception. Navy had the ball at the goal line but fumbled on a quarterback sneak, losing seven yards. Horvath hit Eli Heidenrich in the end zone, though, and the ensuing kick gave the Midshipmen their first lead since the first drive of the game. 

Navy promptly forced a three-and-out and got the ball back with less than five minutes to go. Navy lost a fumble when trying for a first down that would have iced the game, but the play was reviewed, and the call was reversed. Thus, Navy had a fourth-and-1 and kept the offense on the field. They got the first down that iced the game.

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US President Donald Trump tosses a coin before the college football game between the US Army and Navy in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 13, 2025.  (Photo by Alex Wroblewski / AFP via Getty Images)

CHICAGO RADIO HOST RIPS CUBS PLAYER FOR TURNING POINT EVENT ATTENDANCE, LIKENS IT TO ‘NAZI-ADJACENT PEP RALLY’

With the win, Navy earned the Commander-in-Chief trophy by also defeating Air Force earlier in the year.

The game was its usual old-school ground-and-pound style of football, as there were only 24 pass attempts compared to 86 runs.

President Donald Trump attended the game for the seventh time, and his second in as many years since being elected again. Trump participated in the coin flip, but not before protesters wielded lewd signs opposing Trump on the street leading up to the stadium. 

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Protests were expected for the game in the blue city, as Trump has suggested sending the National Guard to Baltimore to help address the city’s rampant crime. Baltimore consistently ranks among U.S. cities with high crime rates, often appearing in the top 5 for violent crimes, especially homicides and robberies. 

U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd-L) walks onto the field for the 126th Army-Navy Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen on Dec. 13, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. The teams are competing for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, with President Trump attending the rivalry for the second consecutive year.  (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

The protests against Trump also come on the same day that officials said two U.S. Army soldiers and a U.S. interpreter were killed in an ambush attack in Syria. 

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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Jarred Vanderbilt hoping for an opportunity to help Lakers on defense

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Jarred Vanderbilt hoping for an opportunity to help Lakers on defense

Perhaps Jarred Vanderbilt and his ability to defend can help the Lakers and their reeling defense.

Perhaps Vanderbilt can return to the rotation to help the Lakers’ defensive woes while guard Austin Reaves is out for approximately a week because of a mild left calf strain.

And perhaps Vanderbilt and the Lakers can get some immediate results for shoring up their defensive shortcomings when they face the Suns in Phoenix on Sunday afternoon.

The 6-foot-8 Vanderbilt is hopeful that his opportunity will come against the Suns and he turns that into a positive for the Lakers.

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“Oh, yeah, I’m pretty eager,” he said after practice Saturday. “I mean, obviously, I think a lot of the stuff we lack, I think I can help provide on that end.”

In the last 10 games, Vanderbilt had only a three-minute stint against the Philadelphia 76ers because Jake LaRavia took a shot to the face that loosened a tooth.

The return of LeBron James and Vanderbilt’s offensive deficiencies left him out of the rotation. During much of that time the Lakers were winning, which meant Vanderbilt spent time on the bench.

In 15 games, Vanderbilt is three for 10 (26.6%) from three-point range. He was asked how he has been handling things.

“Good,” Vanderbilt said. “Controlling what I can control. Keep showing up to work, doing my part, supporting the team.”

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Vanderbilt was asked if coach JJ Redick or any assistants have spoken to him about his role.

“Kind of here and there, I guess,” Vanderbilt said.

Vanderbilt was seen after practice Saturday working with an assistant coach on his shooting, just like he did after practice Friday and like he has done while not playing.

Redick said Reaves, who played against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, wasn’t sure when the calf became an issue, and “we’re obviously gonna be cautious with it.”

“It’s a mild strain, Grade 1, and he’ll be out for a week,” Redick said, adding, “I would venture to say every player is a little bit different, but players now are becoming more cautious — to use that word again — more cautious when they get those diagnosis with the calf. Everything looks clean. It’s not in the deep part.”

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The Lakers have looked at the last 10 games during the film sessions as a barometer for their defensive problems. But in reality, the Lakers have not been very good on defense all season while producing a 17-7 record because of their stellar offense.

“It’s been a trending thing even when we was winning, so I think like you said, the defense still wasn’t there, but we was just outscoring everybody,” Vanderbilt said. “So, I think obviously during the loss, it’s an appropriate time to address certain things just so it won’t keep lingering and get worse.”

The Lakers are 18th in the NBA in points given up (116.8), 22nd in opponents’ field-goal percentage (48.1%) and 27th in opponents’ three-point shooting (38.2%).

They will face a Suns team that defeated them Dec. 1 at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers were unable to stop Collin Gillesipie, who had 28 points and was eight for 14 from three-point range, and Dillon Brooks, who had 33 points.

It hasn’t gotten better in the ensuing days. The Spurs loss was the Lakers’ third in the last five games.

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“Nobody likes to go watch film after you get your ass kicked,” guard Marcus Smart said. “It’s tough because the film never lies. And it exposed us a lot, which we already knew. We were just winning a lot of games. So it was mitigated that way, but it was straight to it: We have to be able to guard.

“The scouting report against us is we’re not guarding people. And if we want to be great in this league and do what we’re trying to do, you have to be able to guard, especially in the West. These guys are no joke, and they’re coming. And especially [if] you got the Lakers across your jersey. They’re definitely coming with everything they have. So you can’t be expecting any surprises. And that’s what it was. It wasn’t no sugarcoating anything. It was, ‘This is what we got to do.’ We’ve been asked. Let’s fix it.”

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