Report: NBC adding star power to MLB coverage

Field Level Media|published: Fri 30th January, 15:23 2026

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (19) takes the field for the top of the eighth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the San Diego Padres at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, July 1, 2021. The Reds won 5-4 on a walk-off single, with the bases loaded, off the bat of Tyler Stephenson.

NBC seems to have hit a home run with its lineup of analysts for the network's return to Major League Baseball coverage.

Front Office Sports reported Friday that NBC is "finalizing deals" to bring on board former National League MVPs Joey Votto and Clayton Kershaw, as well as three-time All-Star Anthony Rizzo.

The three were considered the most coveted catches for MLB broadcasters for the 2026 season.

NBC is taking over Sunday night baseball coverage from ESPN after agreeing to a three-year, $600 million contract last fall. The network also has exclusive rights to air the wild-card playoff round.

NBC already announced that veteran sportscaster Bob Costas is returning to host the "Sunday Night Baseball" pregame show this season. Costas was the play-by-play voice of baseball on NBC from 1982-89 and 1994-2000. The network hasn't had MLB broadcast rights since 2000.

Votto, 42, was the 2010 NL MVP and spent 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. The six-time All-Star hit 356 home runs and drove in 1,144 runs.

Kershaw, 37, retired from the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 2025 season. A three-time World Series champion, he won three NL Cy Young Awards and was the 2014 MVP with a 21-3 record and a 1.77 ERA.

Rizzo, 36, played 14 seasons with the San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees and was part of the Cubs' 2016 championship team. He won four Gold Glove awards at first base.

--Field Level Media

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