Don Orsillo Signs Extension To Remain Red Sox Voice; Watney Leaves For Lakers

Orsillo agreed to four- year deal with NESN

Red Sox play-by-play announcer Don Orsillo "recently agreed to a new four-year deal to remain with NESN," according to sources cited by Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com. Sources said that Orsillo "attracted job offers from both TBS and the MLB Network." Meanwhile, MLB Network was "interested in Orsillo for an expanded regular season package which would have had him calling national games on Thursday and Saturday nights." He will "continue to work the Division Series for TBS, as he has for the last four seasons" (CSNNE.com, 11/16).

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN': In Boston, Chad Finn cites a source as saying that NESN Red Sox in-game reporter Heidi Watney "is leaving the network." Watney, who joined NESN in April '08, "will return to her native California to work as a sideline reporter on Lakers' telecasts on Time Warner." Watney was "popular with viewers and increasingly polished at her job after replacing Tina Cervasio in the reporter's role." But Finn notes her departure "does not come as a surprise." Watney "nearly left the network by mutual decision following last season, but her contract option was picked up" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/17). YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Kaduk wrote Watney "became a regional favorite as she worked hard to improve her game over her four seasons" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/16). In Boston, Peter Abraham noted Watney "joins Bruins host Kathryn Tappen and NESN Daily anchor Jade McCarthy in leaving NESN in recent months." Tappen "joined the NHL Network while McCarthy returned to Philadelphia for family reasons" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/17).