All is well on the Yankees front.
Michael Kay, the play-by-play announcer for the Yankees, recently addressed rumors suggesting he played a role in the departure of John Flaherty from YES Network, where the two had worked together for many years.
“I’ve never had any issues with John Flaherty,” Kay stated during “The Michael Kay Show” on Wednesday. “This situation is definitely not what I wanted nor felt good about.”
Flaherty, a former catcher who was part of the Yankees for three years, had spent two decades with the YES Network. His contract, however, has not been renewed through 2026.
Kay expressed admiration for Flaherty, saying, “I love John Flaherty. I always thought he was one of the most valuable assets on the network.”
On social media, some viewers pointed out a tense moment during a Yankees-Cubs game broadcast, leading to speculation about a rift between the two. One viewer noted that they looked like “bitter, passive-aggressive ex-lovers” during the broadcast.
Kay explained that the rumors stemmed from a somewhat uncomfortable exchange they had while calling a game in Chicago the previous season. He clarified, “It was just a quirky back-and-forth on air, but there’s absolutely no truth to the idea that John and I have any issues.”
This incident involved Flaherty joking about Kay being unusually quiet during their bus ride to the stadium. Kay mentioned that he hadn’t been feeling well that day.
He also hinted at a possible desire from Flaherty to work alongside another broadcaster in the future, which added to the speculation. Following the awkward moment in the booth, they both experienced a brief silence.
The day after, during the next game, Kay and Flaherty discussed the awkward exchange, asserting that they are friends despite any on-air tensions.
Though Flaherty hasn’t returned to broadcasting since leaving the YES Network, Kay continues to call games and maintained that they remain friends. “We’re still absolute friends,” he affirmed.
