Report: ESPN to Remove Jessica Mendoza From “Sunday Night Baseball”

Mendoza is likely leaving the booth for her remarks about MLB's sign-stealing scandal

Report: ESPN to Remove Jessica Mendoza From “Sunday Night Baseball” for Comments
Jessica Mendoza of ESPN before Game 1 of the 2015 World Series. (Maxx Wolfson/Getty)
Getty Images

After speaking up against former Houston pitcher Mike Fiers opening up to the media about the Astros stealing signs in 2017 during their run to the World Series, ESPN MLB analyst Jessica Mendoza could be out at Sunday Night Baseball. 

Mendoza, who took a lot of heat for criticizing Fiers for throwing his former teammates under the bus, currently works alongside Alex Rodriguez and Matt Vasgersian on ESPN’s Sunday night MLB broadcast.

But, Andrew Marchand at the New York Post reports The Worldwide Leader is “working toward removing” Mendoza from the SNB booth.

Vasgersian could also be on his way out of his role on the broadcast although Alex Rodriguez is expected to retain his role.

If Vasgersian is removed, Jon Sciambi and Karl Ravech are possible options to take over lead play-by-play duties. Mendoza’s replacement at color analyst could be former pitcher and current YES broadcaster David Cone, according to previous reports.

Should Mendoza be removed from the booth, it would be a big blow for a woman who became the first female baseball TV analyst with a large role on MLB’s second-most prestigious weekly broadcast.

Though nothing is certain, it is expected that Mendoza, who signed a multi-year, multi-million-dollar deal with ESPN last year, would still be a big part of the network’s baseball coverage even if she leaves SNB. 

“ESPN is reimagining its baseball coverage and Mendoza is expected to be an integral part, in studio or on possibly on weekday games,” according to The Post. “She may want to expand her reach in other avenues, as well.”

One SNB shakeup that’s already been confirmed is Jeff Dufine taking over for Andy Reichwald as lead producer of the program.

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