Anthony Rizzo is being considered as a TV analyst for NBC

As you know, NBC and Peacock are taking over MLB’s Sunday Night Baseball franchise starting in 2026. That package will include three Cubs games.

It also might include a Cubs icon as part of the broadcast crew, according to Andrew Marchand at The Athletic:

Clayton Kershaw and Anthony Rizzo are also on NBC’s radar, according to sources briefed on NBC and Peacock executives’ pursuits.

“Also,” as noted in that quote, includes former Cincinnati Reds star Joey Votto, which I think would be fantastic — Votto has appeared on a handful of broadcasts already and seems like a natural for it.

Here’s what Michael McCarthy and Ryan Glasspiegel said about Rizzo as a potential broadcaster last November at Front Office Sports:

His outgoing personality makes him perfect for TV. The 36-year-old’s experience with the Yankees and Cubs makes him a fan favorite with TV viewers in New York and Chicago, the country’s first- and third-largest TV markets. The 2016 World Series champion with the Cubs can dissect the pressure of playing on the biggest stage. The veteran first baseman dipped his toe into the water as a pregame studio analyst with TBS this season. “Rizz played the New York media better than anybody—and that’s not easy,” says a source. “He always had a smile on his face.” But another TV executive wasn’t so optimistic. “Rizzo wants in. But he’d need to put in the work—and open up more.”

I concur with that. Rizzo does seem like the sort of guy who would put in the work necessary to become a good broadcaster.

Front Office Sports also reported earlier this month that former White Sox and current Tigers broadcaster Jason Benetti is the “leading candidate” to be the play-by-play voice for Sunday Night Baseball on NBC/Peacock. This would also be an excellent choice, as Benetti has become one of the best in the business.

We will, of course, find out more about this in the coming weeks. What I am also hoping is that NBC treats SNB more like a baseball broadcast and less the sideshow that ESPN had made it in recent years. There were more features than baseball during many SNB broadcasts on ESPN, I suppose in an attempt to draw in more casual fans. What that did, though, was drive away many fans who wanted to just watch the game.

I especially dislike players being mic’d up during regular season games. It’s a distraction to the player and never really adds much to the broadcast. During a Spring Training game, or even the All-Star Game? Sure, those games don’t mean anything and can add some fun to such contests. But not during a regular-season game.

I do hope NBC hires Rizzo. Having signed on as a Cubs ambassador upon retiring last summer, he definitely wants to stay around the game.