Joe Buck is gearing up to call a Major League Baseball Opening Day game, which is anticipated to be the sport’s last season on ESPN. Last month, ESPN opted out of the final three seasons of its contract with MLB, aiming to lower its annual rights payment from $550 million to $200 million. This decision will take effect after this season, signaling the likely end of a partnership that has lasted over 35 years. However, Buck remains optimistic, suggesting that there may still be a way for MLB and ESPN to maintain their relationship beyond this year.
This week, Buck will work his first MLB game since joining ESPN, calling the network’s Opening Day broadcast featuring the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers. During an appearance on Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo’s SiriusXM Radio show, Buck discussed his preparations for calling a national MLB game for the first time since 2021 and addressed ESPN’s ties to the league.
“I personally believe Jimmy Pitaro, that they’d love to be in business with baseball just not at that number. I think everything is a negotiation,” Buck mentioned to Russo. “This is just me talking because he and I have never specifically discussed it, but I know Jimmy to be a huge baseball fan, a huge Yankee fan. So the idea that he or ESPN would just wash their hands of baseball, I just don’t believe that.” Last week, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro informed The Athletic that they remain open to re-engaging with MLB regarding a new media rights agreement, although he admitted uncertainty about the league’s stance on continuing their partnership.
“Would I be shocked if something happened in the future where they came back to the table and said let’s find a number that makes both of us comfortable?” Buck pondered. “I would not be shocked. But it could be over at ESPN too, at least in the near term. So I don’t know where ESPN goes…but I think the more you can make these games available to the average fan and the older fan, the better.” ESPN’s package includes Opening Day, Sunday Night Baseball, the Home Run Derby, and several first-round playoff games. After the opt-out clause was invoked, MLB began shopping the package, with Fox reportedly showing interest, while NBC, Amazon, and Netflix are also seen as potential contenders to acquire some or all of the media rights ESPN is relinquishing.
Although placing more games on streaming services may not align with Buck’s desire to cater to older fans, retaining MLB on ESPN might achieve that goal. If Joe Buck finds joy in calling national baseball games again after experiencing Opening Day this week, he may advocate for MLB to mend its relationship with ESPN. If MLB is willing to propose a discounted package, Pitaro and ESPN should certainly be open to listening.
