David Cone’s run as a national analyst at ESPN has come to an end. ESPN confirmed a report from Front Office Sports that Cone was departing the network after serving the last several years in the Sunday Night Baseball booth.
“We appreciate David’s many contributions to our Major League Baseball coverage and wish him the best,” a network spokesperson said to Front Office Sports.
The decision for Cone’s departure was reported largely driven by structural changes rather than performance. ESPN’s recent decision to opt out from its long-held Sunday Night Baseball package in favor of a slate of midweek MLB games created logistical challenges.
Balancing those new commitments with Cone’s prominent role on the New York Yankees’ YES Network became increasingly difficult.
At the same time, ESPN is reportedly reassessing its baseball presentation following the rights shift, including its on-air talent. Cone’s exit appears to be part of a broader reset as the network redefines how it covers the sport. Especially without a weekly Sunday night broadcast. With Sunday Night Baseball now shifting to NBC, there may be a case where Cone becomes part of NBC’s new baseball lineup.
Cone joined ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball booth in 2022, teaming with play-by-play announcer Karl Ravech and analyst Eduardo Pérez. The trio delivered a mix of analytics, storytelling, and on-field perspective during broadcasts. Cone earned praise for detailed breakdowns of pitching mechanics and game strategy.
Over 17 Major League seasons, Cone compiled a 194–126 record with a 3.46 ERA and 2,668 strikeouts. He won five World Series titles, including one with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992. Cone added four championships with the New York Yankees from 1996 to 2000. He also won the American League Cy Young Award in 1994.
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