Mendoza still is expected to play a major role in ESPN's MLB coverage going forwardESPN IMAGES
ESPN is "working toward removing" analyst Jessica Mendoza from its "SNB" booth, while Alex Rodriguez has been "assured that he is welcomed back," according to sources cited by Andrew Marchand of the N.Y. POST. Sources said that Matt Vasgersian's status as the lead play-by-play voice "remains in question," with Jon Sciambi and Karl Ravech as "potential replacements." Sources added that Mendoza "has not been fully informed" she is off "SNB," which is why the decision is "not 100 percent just yet." ESPN execs insist that they "still have big plans for Mendoza, who just last year signed a multi-year, multi-million deal." Mendoza is "expected to be an integral part" of ESPN's MLB coverage, "in studio or possibly on weekday games." The possibility of Mendoza moving off "SNB" comes just weeks after she "took a lot of heat for criticizing pitcher Mike Fiers, who helped expose the Astros' cheating methods." However, those comments have "little to do with ESPN's thought process" (N.Y. POST, 1/28).
