The world of baseball announcing has seen some changes go over it. While at the core of it, promoting has always meant calling the action on the diamond play-by-play, it has since changed. The pace of the game and the audience types have suggested that it has had to change gradually. With former players joining the announcing roster, the money has followed, perhaps nowhere more clearly than in the case today.

Alex Rodriguez has always been a controversial figure in MLB. Despite being one of the most talented hitters in the game, A-Rod was sometimes a fan favorite over his 22-year career, and some of that is carried with him even after his retirement.

Is Former MLB Icon’s Bumper New Deal at Risk?

Alex Rodriguez made waves in August as announcements of his bumper new deal with Fox Sports. The deal would reportedly see the 14x All-Star potentially become one of the best-paid executives on TV. But there may be a spanner in the works. A-Rod may have just seen his popularity take a hit.

The 2009 World Series Winner while with the New York Yankees had already made his foray into sports casting in his time with the pinstripes. He had in fact appeared on the Fox broadcast in his final two years at the Bronx. The star made further inroads featuring on the ESPN broadcast as well after taking his retirement in 2016.

In 2022, as ESPN announced a shake-up of their baseball coverage, Rodriguez was switched onto a broadcast with Yankees announcer Michael Kay on the Kay-Rod Cast on ESPN where his takes have won him some fans. But it appears that was not completely accurate.

A new audience poll recently revealed that only 21% of the viewers of the Kay Rod cast were there to see the star’s opinions. A majority instead tuned in to see the guests featuring on the show. This could potentially have some effect on A-Rod’s new deal considering it was based on his popularity.

Alex Rodriguez’s Switch to Fox Sports in 2024

Reportedly, as per the Hollywood Reporter, Rodriguez has agreed to a new deal with the broadcasting company that could see him become the best paid sportscaster in all of baseball. The former baseballer is set to exclusively join the broadcast team with David ‘Big Papi’ Ortiz and former teammate Derek Jeter at Fox. The new exclusive deal that will see him drop his ESPN duties.

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The new contract is based on Alex Rodriguez’s popularity and ability to draw viewers to the broadcast. If that only means 21% of the audience, Fox Sports may be reconsidering their offer.

An audience poll is certainly not the complete metric of judgement for a sportscaster’s popularity but it is certainly an indicator. And if the new bumper deal truly gives A-Rod the full package, he will need to see his numbers soar.

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