ESPN may not stream in-market MLB games until 2027
ESPN may not stream in-market MLB games until 2027
Despite its recent deal with MLB, fans of teams whose broadcasts are currently distributed by the league might not see their games on ESPN this season.
It was pretty surprising to hear that ESPN and MLB were planning to part ways when the two announced their breakup in early 2025. But over the course of the year, cooler heads prevailed between the two, and a new agreement featuring a different set of broadcast rights was ironed out. As part of that deal, ESPN will have the rights to stream in-market games from several teams that are currently distributed by MLB itself, but a new report indicates it will be at least one more season before those games move over to ESPN platforms.
Key Details:
- Keep waiting: Fans may not see in-market MLB games on ESPN until 2027.
- Silver lining: Out-of-market MLB games on MLB.TV should be ready to roll out on ESPN this year.
- Different deal: ESPN has significantly altered its deal with MLB as compared to years past.
Sports Business Journal reports that the most likely scenario for the 2026 season is that teams whose games are distributed by MLB itself will not be seen on ESPN, but will continue to be distributed through the MLB app. Those teams include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, and Seattle Mariners.
The rights to distribute these teams in their respective home markets until 2028 were sold to ESPN as part of MLB’s new media rights deal in November. But it now appears that they won’t actually air on ESPN platforms until 2027.
In a separate transaction, ESPN purchased the out-of-market MLB.TV package for distribution on its own app. Those out-of-market contests are set to stream on ESPN starting in 2026, meaning that only the in-market streams for teams mentioned above face a delay.
There hasn’t been any public reason given for pushing the debut of in-market games on ESPN until 2027, but the fluid situation with Main Street Sports Group could be playing a major part. Main Street owns the family of FanDuel Sports Network channels, and nine MLB teams that are currently partnered with those channels could soon be seeking new arrangements. Sale talks have bubbled up around Main Street, which is once again facing missed rights payments to partner clubs.
If Main Street gives up its MLB rights before the 2026 season begins, MLB may have to distribute the games for all of those teams itself. That could explain why ESPN is being asked to wait to assume the duties of in-market streaming until 2027 — but it may get quite a few more teams to add to its platform if it has the patience.
ESPN Unlimited
ESPN launched its highly anticipated direct-to-consumer streaming service on August 21, 2025. For the first time, this service gives sports fans access to its full lineup of linear channels without a traditional cable or satellite subscription.