ESPN and MLB: Will Break-Up Lead To Make-Up?

ESPN’s broadcast partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB) is set to conclude after the 2025 season, but the network remains open to future negotiations. During a May 13, 2025, press event for ESPN’s new streaming service, chairman Jimmy Pitaro expressed willingness to engage with the league. 

“We’re ready to listen when the league is ready to talk,” he said. “We’ve communicated this to them and publicly. Right now, we’re not in discussions, and I assume they’re exploring the market, which is their right. We love baseball and hope to find a way to work together.”

In 2021, ESPN and MLB signed a seven-year, $550 million-per-season deal, which included an opt-out clause for the final three years. Both parties exercised this option before the March 1, 2025, deadline, ending ESPN’s MLB game broadcasts after this season. At the time, ESPN stated, “We’re grateful for our long-standing MLB relationship and proud of our fan-focused coverage. We remain open to new ways to serve MLB fans beyond 2025.”

MLB, however, criticized ESPN’s reduced baseball coverage, stating, “ESPN’s scaled-back investment doesn’t align with the sport’s appeal or performance on their platform. Given MLB’s strong viewership, valuable demographics, and exclusive events like the Home Run Derby, ESPN’s push to lower rights fees was unacceptable. We mutually agreed to end the agreement.”