Sports

Mike Francesa fallout: WFAN nearing successor, ESPN lures Bart Scott

The post-Mike Francesa era is coming into focus, and it will amp up WFAN’s rivalry with ESPN New York, The Post has learned.

Bart Scott is expected to leave WFAN to join ESPN, where he will be part of a new 1-3 p.m. local team on 98.7 FM, according to sources. ESPN has had interest in Chris Carlin, but Alan Hahn is emerging as a potential internal candidate to be Scott’s partner.

Meanwhile, the duo of Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts has become the favorite to move to afternoons on WFAN and replace Francesa, according to sources. Nothing yet is finalized.

FAN had considered a three-person team, but with Scott intent on leaving, it is likely the station will abandon that idea. FAN had John Jastremski team with Scott and Maggie Gray this week.





FAN planned to have Roberts join Scott and Gray for shows this coming week, but scrapped the plan as it became apparent Scott wanted out.

This forced FAN’s hand, with the station still trying to figure out things post-Francesa.

Francesa will have a sliver of his programming on WFAN in the future, but is moving the majority of it to Radio.com beginning next year as part of a three-year deal.

Gray is expected to be half of the midday show, if the “Joe & Evan” show goes to afternoons when the new schedule begins in January.

For ESPN, it could offer the Scott show regionally, as well with a still-to-be announced national 1-3 p.m. program for ESPN Radio.





The national show opening came about with Stephen A. Smith moving off radio with his new five-year deal worth a little less than $8 million annually, as The Post previously reported. Will Cain remains the favorite to host the 1-3 p.m. ESPN national show.

Scott’s new role will also give him prominence on TV, as he will be a football analyst on “Get Up!” and other ESPN shows.





Share this: