MLB Network has cut ties with insider Ken Rosenthal.
Rosenthal confirmed the news on Twitter.
Can confirm MLB Network has decided not to bring me back. I’m grateful for the more than 12 years I spent there, and my enduring friendships with on-air personalities, producers and staff. I always strove to maintain my journalistic integrity, and my work reflects that. 1/2
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 4, 2022
The ousting is believed to be because of his criticism of Rob Manfred during the 2020 season delay and columns he wrote for The Athletic analyzing Manfred’s handling of the situation, per the New York Post.
“As MLB Network continues to look at fresh ways to bring baseball to our viewers, there is a natural turnover in our talent roster that takes place each year,” an MLB spokesman told The Post. “Ken played a significant part at MLB Network over the last 13 years. From spring training to the winter meetings, we thank him for his work across MLB Network’s studio, game and event programming, and wish him the very best going forward.”
MLB Network is owned and run by MLB. MLB.com obviously has the same situation. Both have limited their programming during the current lockout.
Now Rosenthal is out for comments criticizing the commissioner whose job is to protect the owners from criticism.
In one article, Rosenthal wrote, “As if the perception that Manfred is beholden to owners and out of touch with players was not bad enough, he was trending on Twitter on Monday after performing a massive flip-flop.”
And now he’s trending again for another massive flip-flop.
