Why David Cone could be an ESPN casualty with new MLB broadcasting schedule

The new ESPN baseball broadcast schedule may cost the company its top analyst in David Cone.

With ESPN switching its showcase game from “Sunday Night Baseball” to midweek beginning next season, that will clash more with Cone’s more robust Yankees-affiliated YES Network schedule and that could lead to a potential split, according to Front Office Sports.

Cone’s contract reportedly will expire around the start of the 2026 MLB season, which begins March 25 when the Giants host the Yankees.

“ESPN loves Cone—and wants to keep him. But juggling the two network schedules is going to be difficult,” a source told Front Office Sports. “We’ll see how it works out.”

Cone, 62, is arguably the premier analyst in the sport, earning rave reviews for his ability to provide viewers with deep dives into pitchers and batters’ mindsets after 17 years in the big leagues.

The old arrangement with ESPN airing its standout game on Sunday worked within Cone’s Yankees duties since it was easier for him to miss the final day of a series, and there were always weekend series during the season in which Cone does not have any duties.

The 2025 season marked Cone’s fourth calling games for “Sunday Night Baseball,” and he’s been with YES Network since 2011 after previous short stints in 2002 and from 2008-09.

Jared Boshnack, YES’ executive producer and VP of production, told Front Office Sports that Cone called 40 Yankees games last year and is scheduled for more this upcoming season.

“David is phenomenal. He makes our team better,” Boshnack said to Front Office Sports. “We’re very happy to have him.” 

Cone’s uptick in games come as the network moved on from longtime analyst John Flaherty.

If ESPN and Cone are unable to make the logistics work, it’s possible he could be in play for a new role with NBC or Netflix.

NBC will now be airing the Sunday night game in its return to airing MLB action, with 25 games on tap for the 2026 season, according to ESPN.

The network is searching for a “star game analyst,” for said games, plus wild-card action.

Netflix is joining the mix but has a limited amount of games, plus the Home Run Derby.

The streaming giant will broadcast the Yankees-Giants season-opening tilt, along with the Field of Dreams game on Aug. 13, when the Twins battle the Phillies.