Respected baseball analyst and former New York Yankees pitcher David Cone is departing ESPN after the network opted not to renew his contract, according to industry reports.
The $550 Million Deal That Forced a Choice
The move comes directly in the wake of ESPN's newly agreed three-year, $550 million rights deal with Major League Baseball, finalised last month. While the lucrative agreement secures baseball's future on the broadcaster, it has created a significant scheduling dilemma for Cone.
As a key part of the new arrangement, ESPN is shifting its flagship MLB broadcast from Sunday nights to a midweek slot. This change directly conflicts with Cone's long-standing and primary role as a game analyst for the YES Network, the television home of the New York Yankees.
For the past four seasons, Cone has been a fixture in the booth for ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, working alongside Eduardo Perez and Karl Ravech. The weekend timing had previously allowed him to fulfil his commitments to YES without issue.
A Broadcasting Icon Caught in the Middle
Facing an unavoidable clash, Cone has been left with little choice. Front Office Sports reports that acknowledging this conflict has led to his exit from the national broadcaster. A spokesperson for ESPN was quoted stating, "We appreciate David’s many contributions to our Major League Baseball coverage and wish him the best."
Cone, a five-time World Series champion, is widely regarded as one of the sport's most insightful and respected analysts. His expertise, drawn from a stellar playing career, has made him a favourite among fans and peers alike.
His future with the Yankees' affiliate, however, remains secure. Reports indicate Cone is already locked in with YES for the 2026 season, with executive producer Jared Boshnack reportedly scheduling him for more than the 40 games he covered last year.
New Broadcast Landscape Opens Doors
Cone's sudden availability will likely attract significant interest from other networks that have recently entered the baseball broadcasting arena. This follows a period of major reshuffling in MLB's media rights.
Notably, NBC/Peacock has agreed a $600 million, three-year deal to become the new home of 'Sunday Night Baseball' and the Wild Card Series. Meanwhile, streaming giant Netflix has continued its sports expansion, acquiring rights to the Home Run Derby and two additional games in a deal worth $50 million per season.
It remains to be seen whether these new players, or others, will now seek to secure the services of the highly-regarded MLB icon following his departure from ESPN.
