• David Cone will not have his contract renewed by ESPN, the network confirmed.
• The decision stemmed from a scheduling conflict after ESPN traded Sunday Night Baseball for a midweek package.
• Cone will continue calling Yankees games for the YES Network, with an expanded role expected.
• Industry observers say a move to NBC — which picked up ESPN’s old Sunday night slot — is possible.
ESPN confirms David Cone’s exit
ESPN confirmed that longtime analyst David Cone will not return to the network. A spokesperson thanked Cone for his contributions to Major League Baseball coverage and wished him well.
The move was not a surprise inside the industry. Sources told Front Office Sports that ESPN’s shift in its MLB rights and broadcast schedule created a direct conflict with Cone’s commitments to the Yankees’ YES Network.
Why the split happened
ESPN traded its marquee Sunday Night Baseball slot for a package of midweek games. That change made it difficult for Cone to balance his ESPN schedule with an expanded role on YES, where he’s a regular voice for Yankees telecasts.
According to the report, ESPN chose not to extend Cone’s contract as it retooled its MLB announcing lineup to match the new game schedule.
Cone’s future with YES — and beyond
Cone will remain on the YES Network for the upcoming season. Jared Boshnack, YES executive producer and VP of production, told Front Office Sports that Cone is “phenomenal” and noted the network is penciling him in for more than the 40 games he called last season.
That continued commitment to Yankees broadcasts appears to be a primary reason Cone prioritized his YES duties over continuing at ESPN.
Could Cone land at NBC?
With NBC taking over ESPN’s old Sunday night window and expanding its MLB coverage, industry observers are asking whether Cone might migrate to NBC to reclaim national Sunday-night exposure. The question remains open; neither Cone nor NBC has confirmed talks publicly.
What this means for ESPN and baseball broadcasts
ESPN’s decision underlines how rights deals and game schedules shape broadcast talent lineups. Networks often reassess announcer contracts when they alter game windows, aiming to match talent availability to live telecasts and production strategies.
For viewers, the immediate effect is continuity for Yankees fans who will still hear Cone on YES. For national MLB broadcasts, ESPN plans a fresh look at its announcing roster to fit the midweek package it acquired.
Bottom line
David Cone — a respected former Yankees and Mets pitcher turned analyst — is out at ESPN due to scheduling conflicts tied to a reshuffle of MLB broadcast rights. He will continue to call games for the YES Network, and his next national broadcast home, if any, has yet to be decided.
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