The Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network (YES) has shaken things up.
The Athletic reported in October that longtime Yankees analyst John Flaherty won’t return to broadcasts in 2026 after 20 years with the network. Jeff Nelson and Dave Valle are also out as part-time analysts.
YES plans to focus on its trio of marquee analysts: David Cone, Paul O’Neill, and Joe Girardi. All three won championships with the Yankees during the dynasty years.
According to a YES Network social media post, Yankee legend Willie Randolph will be in the network’s plans this year for Bronx Bombers’ coverage. Randolph owns six World Series championships–two as a player, and four as a coach.
New York Yankees Legend Willie Randolph Joins YES Network Studio Coverage
The Yankees legend has been making regular appearances on YES Network programming for years. He showed up on Yankees Hot Stove in December 2024 to discuss Rickey Henderson’s passing. He was at spring training in March 2025, talking baseball. He’s been in the YES ecosystem without being a full-time fixture.
According to Baseball-Reference, Randolph played 18 MLB seasons from 1975 to 1992. He spent 13 of those years with the Yankees, winning back-to-back World Series championships in 1977 and 1978.
He was a six-time All-Star. He finished his career ranked fifth in major league history in games at second base with 2,152. He was co-captain of the Yankees alongside Ron Guidry from 1986 to 1988.
After retiring as a player in 1992, Randolph joined the Yankees coaching staff for 11 years. He was the third base coach for the 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000 World Series championship teams. He knows what winning looks like because he lived it.
Why Randolph Makes Sense For Yankees Broadcast Crew
YES wants analysts who were part of the Yankees’ championship dynasty. Cone, O’Neill, and Girardi all fit that mold. But guess who else does? Randolph won titles as both a player and a coach with the organization.
He’s got on-camera experience. He’s comfortable in the studio. He’s been part of YES programming for years without being locked into a full-time role.
The Athletic reported that YES has been criticized for lacking consistency in its analyst booth compared to SNY’s stable trio of Gary Cohen, Ron Darling, and Keith Hernandez. Adding someone like Randolph could provide depth without disrupting the Cone-O’Neill-Girardi rotation.
Michael Kay will call over 130 games next season. Ryan Ruocco will handle about 15 between his ESPN commitments, per The Athletic. That’s a lot of broadcasts to cover with studio shows before and after each game.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post 6x World Series Champion Yankees Legend Joins YES Network appeared first on Heavy Sports.