Report: ESPN To Air Fewer MLB Games

ESPN and Major League Baseball are closing in on a TV deal that would provide the network exclusive rights to the first round of the playoffs, The NY Post has learned.

Now all that is needed is a first round of the playoffs.

That needs to be negotiated between MLB and the Players Association, which is to say that, while an ESPN-MLB deal is close, they are still far from knowing when — and even if — there will be playoffs expanded from 10 to likely 14 teams to include a best-of-three first round.

In the deal between ESPN and MLB, the network would reduce the amount of national games it broadcasts, while increasing the number of marquee matchups.

A-Rod

While weekday regular season baseball will almost be eliminated on the network, “Sunday Night Baseball” will continue with ESPN in talks to keep Alex Rodriguez as the main analyst on the broadcasts, according to sources. His partner, Matt Vasgersian, is probable to return, but a definitive decision has not been made yet.

In the new contract, ESPN will pay a lower average value than its previous eight-year contract that was reported to be for $5.6 billion. Fewer games means less money. The exact dollars and length are not yet publicly known. It is likely to be through 2028 when the Fox and TBS baseball deals end.

MLB is engaging other networks about picking up what ESPN discards — likely a host of weekday games — to broadcast nationally, according to sources.

In 2022, when the new deal will begin, ESPN will broadcast 30 to 40 regular season games, down from around 90.

Of the 30 to 40 in the new deal, 25 will be in the exclusive Sunday Night window, featuring A-Rod. The rest of the broadcasts will be spread out across the season. The network will continue with the Home Run Derby.