Keith Hernandez will return to SNY’s Mets booth for an 18th season, an industry source confirmed to Newsday on Monday. WFAN’s Boomer Esiason was first to report the news.
Hernandez, 69, had been engaged in lengthy contract negotiations with the network in recent weeks, seemingly threatening his place in SNY’s highly regarded three-man booth.
But now he is headed back for another season with Gary Cohen and Ron Darling, who will surpass the 17 years Bob Murphy, Ralph Kiner and Lindsey Nelson spent together to become the longest-running announcing team in Mets history.
Negotiations for a new contract seemed to be taking a while, but progress was reported last week. The New York Post’s Mike Puma tweeted Thursday: Hearing there has been progress in the contract talks between SNY and Keith Hernandez. The two sides are considered not far apart on a new multi-year agreement, but there is still work to be done before it can be completed.’
The color commentator took a fall in Midtown Manhattan in late September, causing him to miss the remainder of the Mets’ regular season. He required shoulder surgery.
Hernandez played seven seasons with the Mets and had his jersey retired in July in a ceremony at Citi Field.
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Over 17 MLB seasons, Hernandez won 11 Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger Awards. He was a five-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion and the 1979 National League MVP. He has served as a game analyst for SNY since 2006.
