ESPN is "expected to announce a deal" for Fox MLB analyst Alex Rodriguez to join the cast of "Sunday Night Baseball," according to sources cited by Michael McCarthy of SPORTING NEWS. Rodriguez would "work 'Sunday Night Baseball' with Jessica Mendoza, Buster Olney and incoming hire Matt Vasgersian, who will take over as play-by-play announcer" for Dan Shulman. During the postseason, Rodriguez would "continue to serve as a Fox Sports baseball analyst with Kevin Burkhardt, Frank Thomas and guests such as David Ortiz and Keith Hernandez." Sources said that the "talent-sharing relationship became possible" after Disney agreed to pay $60B to "acquire most of 21st Century Fox's assets" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 1/23). NBCSPORTS.com's Craig Calcaterra notes while some broadcasters "work for multiple networks, it’s pretty rare for Fox to allow its talents to work for competitors like that." Apparently they believe keeping Rodriguez -- who "five years ago was one of the most despised figures in baseball -- is worth it." Calcaterra: "What a difference a few years makes" (NBCSPORTS.com, 1/23).
