MLB and ESPN are splitting up

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty ImagesAl Yellon created Bleed Cubbie Blue and has been its managing editor since 2005. His latest book about the Cubs is "Chicago Cubs Firsts." Find him on Bluesky at @bleedcubbieblue.bsky.social

Earlier this month, I posted here about the possibility of ESPN opting out of the last three years of its deal with MLB. The TV network had until March 1 to make this decision.

Now, that’s happened. Evan Drellich has details in this article in The Athletic. Bottom line, literally: MLB will have to find some way to make up the $550 million per year that ESPN was paying for broadcast rights. I’ll get to that in a moment, but first I want to share with you the statements…