The future of one of baseball's most respected analysts, David Cone, is under threat due to a major scheduling shift stemming from ESPN's new multi-million dollar agreement with Major League Baseball.
The New Deal and Its Scheduling Consequence
After a potential split was narrowly avoided, ESPN and MLB agreed a reworked three-year rights package worth $550 million. A key change in this new deal, however, sees ESPN move its premier national broadcast slot. The long-standing Sunday Night Baseball showcase will be replaced by a midweek game starting next season.
While this alteration may seem logistical, it has direct and serious implications for the broadcast team. The new schedule creates a significant conflict for analyst David Cone, whose current contract with ESPN is reportedly set to expire around the start of the 2026 MLB season in March.
The Impossible Clash: ESPN vs. YES Network
The core of the issue lies in Cone's dual roles. The 62-year-old, a five-time World Series champion revered for his expert insight, has been a mainstay in ESPN's Sunday night booth for four seasons alongside Eduardo Perez and Karl Ravech.
Concurrently, he is a valued commentator for the YES Network, the television home of the New York Yankees. The weekend timing of Sunday Night Baseball previously allowed him to fulfil both commitments without issue. The shift to weekday games, however, puts his ESPN duties on a direct collision course with his YES schedule.
Jared Boshnack, YES Network's executive producer and VP of production, has already pencilled Cone in for more than 40 games for the 2026 season. "David is phenomenal. He makes our team better," Boshnack told Front Office Sports. "We're very happy to have him."
Potential Outcomes and Rival Interest
According to a report by Front Office Sports, sources indicate that ESPN loves Cone and wants to keep him, but juggling the two network schedules will be extremely difficult. If a solution cannot be found, a parting of ways seems likely.
Such a scenario could trigger a bidding war for Cone's services. Other networks that have recently secured MLB rights, including NBC/Peacock and Netflix, would likely be interested. NBC agreed a $600 million, three-year deal to become the new home of 'Sunday Night Baseball' and the Wild Card Series, while Netflix is paying $50 million per season for the Home Run Derby and two other games.
The coming months will determine whether one of baseball's most authoritative voices remains a fixture on ESPN's national broadcasts or becomes a prized acquisition for a competitor.
