The Alex Rodriguez Sunday Night Baseball “Manningcast” is reportedly a go, with Michael Kay as his partner. Plus: Rachel Nichols is officially done with ESPN and Ken Rosenthal is out at MLB Network.
A-Rod “Manningcast” set with Michael Kay as partner
ESPN Sunday Night Baseball analyst Alex Rodriguez will shift from the primary game telecast to a 10-12 game package of alternate presentations alongside YES Network play-by-play voice Michael Kay, the New York Post and Darren Rovell reported Thursday.
Rodriguez will be replaced as the main Sunday night analyst by the duo of Eduardo Perez and YES Network’s David Cone, with Karl Ravech on play-by-play, per the Post.
The trio of Ravech, Cone and Perez would be the ninth different Sunday Night Baseball broadcast team since ESPN moved away from Jon Miller and Joe Morgan in 2011.
ESPN’s decision to create a Rodriguez-fronted version of its Monday Night Football “Manningcast” was first reported by the Post on Wednesday.
Nichols officially out at ESPN
Former ESPN “The Jump” host Rachel Nichols has officially parted ways with the company, the New York Post reported Tuesday. Nichols had been off the air since last summer but still had several months left on her contract.
Nichols was named ESPN/ABC’s lead NBA studio host just over two years ago but had the role taken away midseason. While quarantining in an NBA “bubble” hotel room, she was recorded without her knowledge complaining about losing the role to Maria Taylor and suggesting that ESPN executives made the switch because they were feeling pressure over their poor record on diversity.
Rosenthal dropped from MLB Network, reportedly over Manfred criticism
MLB Network this week elected not to renew the contract of reporter Ken Rosenthal, ending his 13-year association with the league-owned network. According to the New York Post, the decision was due to Rosenthal’s criticism of league commissioner Rob Manfred, which previously resulted in the network pulling Rosenthal from the air for three months in 2020.
The move does not affect Rosenthal’s other roles with Fox Sports or The Athletic.
