Alex Rodriguez needs a new partner on ESPN's 'Sunday Night Baseball' after Matt Vasgersian leaves
ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" booth is in for yet another major change. After four seasons on the program, play-by-play man Matt Vasgersian is leaving, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.
Vasgersian, 54, confirmed the news, telling the Post the ESPN job took away from Vasgersian's other roles with the Los Angeles Angels and at MLB Network. Vasgersian serves as the Angels' play-by-play man during the regular season. He is also a studio host at MLB Network.
The move means Alex Rodriguez will need a new partner in 2022. Rodriguez's contract is reportedly up, according to Marchand, but ESPN wants Rodriguez to continue to be part of the "Sunday Night Baseball" booth.
ESPN could consider Jason Benetti, Dave Fleming, Michael Kay, Karl Ravech, Ryan Ruocco and Boog Sciambi to replace Vasgersian, according to Marchand.
Matt Vasgersian joined ESPN booth in 2018
Vasgersian took over the play-by-play job on "Sunday Night Baseball" after Dan Shulman left the program following the 2017 MLB season. Shulman shared the booth with Aaron Boone and Jessica Mendoza. Boone left the program that same offseason after becoming the next manager of the New York Yankees.
Mendoza remained in her role and Rodriguez replaced Boone. When the 2018 MLB season opened, the "Sunday Night Baseball" booth consisted of Mendoza, Rodriguez and Vasgersian. Mendoza remained in the booth through the 2019 season, but left prior to the 2020 season.
Since then, Rodriguez and Vasgersian have operated as a two-person booth.