Yankees’ Michael Kay hints at retirement: ‘I do enter the twilight years’

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NEW YORK — After more than three decades as the voice of the New York Yankees, Michael Kay is thinking about what’s next—and how long he wants to keep going.

Kay, 64, who has served as the Yankees’ lead play-by-play announcer on the YES Network since its launch in 2002, reflected on the arc of his broadcasting career in a recent interview. In a candid appearance on the Marchand Sports Media Podcast, Kay acknowledged he’s entered what he calls the “twilight years” of his career.

“I’m not sure I want to go forever. I mean, I want to live forever, but I’m not sure I want to go [forever],” Kay said during the June 2025 episode.

The comments, equal parts humorous and introspective, signal a possible winding down from the veteran broadcaster who has long been a central figure in New York sports media.

Still the voice of the Yankees, but not forever

Kay is currently calling his 33rd season with the Yankees and remains under contract with YES Network, where he typically calls around 150 games per year. But he now admits that schedule might be too demanding in the long term.

“Maybe cutting that to 100 [games] would be much more palatable,” Kay said.

He emphasized that while he’s not stepping away just yet, the prospect of scaling back his workload is real. “I do enter the ‘twilight years’ with some trepidation,” Kay added, noting that he doesn’t have many hobbies beyond broadcasting.

“I don’t have any interests. I read. I don’t play tennis. I don’t play golf. I mean, I would probably be boring as hell,” he joked.

Balancing baseball with family

One of the biggest reasons for Kay’s recent reflection is his young family. Married later in life and now raising school-age children, he has become increasingly aware of the time commitment his broadcasting duties demand.

This past year, he transitioned away from afternoon drive-time radio on ESPN New York. After 22 years anchoring The Michael Kay Show, he stepped away from the 3–7 p.m. slot in December 2024. In its place, the Yankees voice launched a shorter, solo midday show that now airs weekdays from 1–3 p.m.

“The afternoon show was no longer conducive to the lifestyle I wanted,” Kay said in an earlier statement. “I want to be home when my kids walk in the door.”

Don LaGreca and Peter Rosenberg remain with ESPN New York in the afternoons alongside analyst Alan Hahn, but Kay’s own program now gives him more flexibility without fully stepping away from the mic.

KayRod cast and national spotlight

In addition to his Yankees and radio work, Kay spent two seasons as co-host of the KayRod Cast, a live alternate Sunday Night Baseball broadcast on ESPN2 alongside Alex Rodriguez. The program, launched in 2022, offered fans a casual, conversational take on MLB’s weekly primetime showcase—akin to the ManningCast’s success in the NFL.

Though the KayRod Cast was shelved ahead of the 2024 season as ESPN pivoted to Statcast-driven broadcasts, the project elevated Kay’s national profile beyond New York.

Kay has also occasionally contributed to ESPN’s national baseball broadcasts, including postseason games on ESPN Radio. Yet, his central identity remains deeply tied to the Yankees, where he’s narrated everything from World Series victories to player retirements and milestone moments.

A broadcasting legacy in New York

Born in the Bronx and a graduate of Fordham University, Kay began his career as a Yankees beat reporter for the New York Post and later became the team’s radio voice alongside John Sterling in 1992. He made the transition to television when the YES Network launched, becoming synonymous with Yankees broadcasts for generations of fans.

Kay’s signature calls and familiar presence have made him one of the most recognized voices in baseball. His work on CenterStage, a YES Network interview series with sports and entertainment figures, further cemented his role as a leading face of New York sports media.

Still, Kay admits he’s beginning to think more about what’s next—especially after years of working one of the most demanding schedules in sports broadcasting.

“Do I want to get out when the kids are out of the house in college? I don’t know. Do I want to get out now? No,” he said. “I’ve gotta pay the bills.”

What comes next for Kay?

While Kay’s voice will still echo through Yankees broadcasts for the foreseeable future, fans may begin to see a gradual easing back in the years ahead. Whether that means fewer games, shorter radio shows, or an eventual transition out of the booth, remains to be seen.

“As long as they want me around, I’ll be around,” he said. “But maybe not at that pace.”

For now, Michael Kay remains at the center of the Yankees’ media universe—a trusted narrator of the team’s highs, lows, and everything in between. But as he openly embraces the idea of “twilight years,” one of New York’s most iconic voices is starting to think about his own final inning.

What do you think?

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