Yankees benefit from ESPN's David Cone decision after scheduling conflicts

It's common for national TV mega-networks to poach the best on-air talent from regional networks, and such is the case with ESPN and David Cone. The former New York Yankees right-hander and five-time World Series champ has showcased his elite commentating presence with YES Network since its inaugural season in 2002 (with some breaks along the way), but as of four years ago, he's spent plenty of time away from YES while contributing to ESPN's MLB broadcasts.

Yankees fans love Cone because he mixes his natural loyalty to the franchise with a refreshingly objective approach on-air that doesn't allow his affinity for the Yanks get in the way of criticizing them or abiding by common sense (yes, even when it comes to Anthony Volpe!). Of course, this makes Cone such an attractive asset for a national behemoth like ESPN, but luckily for YES viewers, Cone will be moving away from ESPN this coming season due to scheduling conflicts.

Yankees fans are sure to be elated that David Cone is set to do more games on YES in 2026

According to The Athletic's Andrew Marchand, Cone won't be doing ESPN games in 2026 now that the network is swapping out "Sunday Night Baseball" for more weeknight games. Cone's ESPN commitments over the past four years have often aligned with Sunday Night Baseball, while he's maintained his YES contributions during the week. With ESPN and YES now clashing on Cone's calendar, YES has won out.

This is nothing but splendid news for Yankees fans, and also a convenient development for YES, which didn't renew contracts for John Flaherty and Jeff Nelson this offseason. Cone emerges once again as the most prominent YES voice by far, and it's only fitting.

Beyond his astute commentary, Cone embodies absolutely everything about the Yankees over the past three decades, even in a more all-encompassing way than a guy like Derek Jeter. For while Jeter is a Yankees god of sorts whose reputation is devoid of any discernible flaws, Cone represents a fuller and more profane picture of the Yankees experience within the context of all of Major League Baseball. Cone has the championship rings and a Cy Young, sure, but he also has a wealth of experience with other franchises.

Ultimately, Cone is ingrained into the fabric of New York. His comeback attempt with the New York Mets in the early 2000s famously ticked off George Steinbrenner, a story that is vividly relevant today given all of Yankees-Mets player sharing (and resulting fan backlash). Furthermore, Cone dove head first into NYC nightlife during his playing days and didn't always escape with his reputation unscathed, a trove of experiences that lends even more realness to his perspective.

Yes, it's not hyperbole to call Cone something of a Yankees treasure, even if the Hall of Fame doesn't consider him shiny enough. Destiny has always bestowed the crown of YES Network's Yankees coverage on Cone's head, and the latest development only reinforces this inevitability.