The YES Network is planning to recast its broadcast booth and they are going to hire two of the biggest Yankees stars and fan favorites. According to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, as YES Network starts to prepare its broadcast schedule for the 2023 season, it is trying to bring on board Derek Jeter and Don Mattingly, two of the most popular Yankees in the team’s history.
When questioned about the YES Networks’ potential move for the duo, president of programming and production John Filippelli told:
“You don’t say no to Derek Jeter and Don Mattingly, if there is a place for them in your universe, you find a way to make it work. We haven’t had any in-depth discussion with either. If they are A) available and B) interested, you probably at least have to have a conversation.”
People don’t think Derek Jeter will do it because he hasn’t shown any interest in broadcasting yet. A message sent to Jeter’s office for comment was not answered. But the Yankees’ legend is someone everyone wants to see and listen to.
When Don Mattingly was reached by text, he said that he had never heard of this possibility before. However, he expressed his readiness to consider such an offer.
“I have something else burning fairly hot right now,” Mattingly said, “Depends how that goes.”
Over the past year, both Derek Jeter and Don Mattingly had left the Marlins and are looking somehow coming closer to the Yankees and New York. Jeter helmed the Miami Marlins for five years while Mattingly was their manager for seven years, which is longer than anyone else in that team’s history. Before that, he was the manager of the Dodgers.
Last year, YES Network brought Carlos Beltran and Cameron Maybin on board. Maybin also worked for the Cubs’ regional sports network, Marquee, and the MLB Network. But Beltran, in particular, had to learn a lot. YES Network believed Beltran did a better job in the studio than he did on the field.
People think that Paul O’Neill will be in the booth next season if he comes back. He is a free agent now. so he awkwardly did games from his basement because YES Network has rules for employees who haven’t had their shots. Since O’Neill wasn’t there with the rest of the crew, the broadcasts were awkward and took longer than they should have.
Last season, David Cone had less work with YES Network because he also worked on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball.” John Flaherty, who also needs a new contract, could play in more games for YES. It also liked the work Jeff Nelson did when he was there.
Jack Curry, a longtime studio analyst, and Meredith Marakovits, a sideline reporter, also have contracts that are about to end, and YES Network wants them back.
Filippelli and Derek Jeter have had a few lighthearted conversations so far. The former once asked the latter about his preference to become a sportscaster while on ESPN’s “Kay-Rod” in August. Filippelli, who has known Jeter for more than 25 years, began talking about the idea. Derek Jeter laughed a little and said “no” right away. It wasn’t formal or serious, but it could be Jeter’s last word on the matter.
But since Mattingly and Jeter are free agents and the Yankees are trying to keep and sign some big names, YES Network may try to make a splash of its own.
What do you think? Will Derek Jeter have another popular career on Network? Leave your comment below.
