ESPN's latest deal has fans talking as the broadcasting giant has struck a new three-year media rights deal (2026-2028). The deal gives ESPN rights to stream MLB.TV content on its own app, while also having a 30-game national package.As part of this deal, the $24 billion media giant (via Forbes) has exclusive rights to in-market games of the following six MLB teams:San Diego PadresCleveland GuardiansSeattle MarinersMinnesota TwinsArizona DiamondbacksColorado RockiesBecause of this, starting from 2026, fans wanting to stream games of the above-mentioned team will have to purchase the applicable streaming package from ESPN.The development has raised questions from fans. One asked:"So I’ll be forced to buy ESPN?""Will the Mariners’ out-of-market package still be available for people like me (in South Carolina)?" another fan asked."Will the broadcasts still be available out of market on MLBTv?" one fan asked."Yep, we not only need to pay for cable to get ESPN. We will have to subscribe to an ADDITIONAL service to get our beloved baseball teams. What a disaster!" another fan answered."ESPN makes everything shittier. MLB had an opportunity to bring everything in house for the whole sport. And they struck out," one fan wrote."Al I want to know is if the Seidler brothers can continue crying poor before the sale because they don’t have TV revenue," one fan commented.Implications for fans after ESPN-MLB media rights dealThe side benefit for fans from this ESPN-MLB media rights deal is that they will no longer have to rely on regional sports networks (RSNs) or traditional cable. They’ll be able to stream local games via ESPN/MLB platforms.ESPN's chairman Jimmy Pitaro called the deal "fan-friendly," saying:“This fan-friendly agreement allows us to showcase the great sport of baseball on both a local and national level, while prioritizing our streaming future. MLB.TV is a coveted, must-have companion for passionate MLB fans all over the country, and it will be strongly complemented by our national game package and in-market team rights – all within the ESPN App.”MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred also commented on the deal. He said:“This new agreement with ESPN marks a significant evolution in our more than 30-year relationship. Bringing MLB.TV to ESPN’s new app while maintaining a presence on linear television reflects a balanced approach to the shifts taking place in the way that fans watch baseball and gives MLB a meaningful presence on an important destination for fans of all sports.”In the wake of this deal, ESPN is losing "Sunday Night Baseball," as that package moves to NBCUniversal under this deal. Their national coverage focuses more on midweek, weeknight games now, instead of just big Sunday games.