ESPN searched for years to find an announcing voice that was suitable to lead the Monday Night Football booth before ultimately swinging big to acquire Joe Buck and Troy Aikman from Fox in 2022. But that deal also meant that Buck's time calling baseball was effectively over.
That could be changing, though.
According to The Athletic, ESPN and Buck reached a six-year, $108 million contract extension this week that will keep him with the network for multiple Super Bowls. It might also mean a return to the MLB booth as the voice of the World Series.
The same report said that ESPN plans to make a run at the World Series broadcasting rights in 2029. If the network is successful, Buck would be the person to call it. Buck worked 24 World Series with Fox,
but has only called one baseball game since joining ESPN (Yankees-Brewers last year).
Via The Athletic:
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro is interested in getting the rights to the World Series in 2029, according to sources briefed on ESPN’s plans but not permitted to speak publicly. If ESPN were to swipe all or part of the World Series, Pitaro has told Buck he would like him to call it, the sources said. No provision in Buck’s new contract guarantees that happens.
With MLB's current broadcast agreements, ESPN has taken a significant step back in its MLB rights. The network didn't broadcast the Home Run Derby for the first time in decades. NBC/Peacock now carries Sunday Night Baseball — a longtime ESPN staple. There also won't be any postseason games on ESPN this year. Aside from the occasional midweek broadcast and special event games, ESPN mainly hosts MLB.tv on its streaming app.
If ESPN does get back in MLB postseason coverage, it would make a lot of sense for Buck to be involved.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: ESPN reportedly wants Joe Buck to call baseball if it acquires World Series rights
