Blame A-Rod.
Mike Francesa said on his show Monday that his interviews with the Yankees slugger was one of the reasons for his split from the Yankees-owned YES Network after 12 years.
“It’s not one reason. It’s never one reason … Economics is always an issue. It’s not the only issue,” Francesa said. “Editorial control is always an issue. It’s almost ended the show a couple of time here. … It doesn’t really matter why. I knew in the summer it wasn’t going to continue. … Was A-Rod [Alex Rodriguez] an issue? I’m sure he was, at some level. I guarantee it was.”
Rodriguez has been in a battle with MLB since he appealed his 211-game suspension in August. During the season, Rodriguez suggested the Yankees might be in cahoots with baseball to keep him from playing – leading to nasty back-and-forths with Yankees brass, including GM Brian Cashman. Rodriguez has sued Yankees doctor Chris Ahmad for allegedly misleading him about his injured hip during his awful 2012 postseason.
Francesa has had several interviews with Rodriguez throughout the process, the most memorable coming on Nov. 20 when Rodriguez stormed out of his arbitration hearing after learning that MLB commissioner Bud Selig would not have to testify. Rodriguez then showed up at Francesa’s studio and ripped Selig and the arbitration process. Francesa has been criticized for treating A-Rod too favorably.
Francesa said he had no discussions with YES about a contract renewal because “we knew there wasn’t going to be a future.” He has yet to begin talks for his next television simulcast home, though he does expect there to be one after his time on YES ends on Jan. 31, just before the Super Bowl.
“I don’t think we’ve had three or four arguments in 12 years,” Francesa said of his relationship with YES. “They’ve been great partners in every way. We’ve enjoyed it, and it is coming to an end … 12 years in TV is a long time, it’s a long time.”
A Newsday report over the weekend said Michael Kay’s ESPN Radio show would replace Francesa on YES. Kay is also the Yankees play-by-play man.