New York Yankees, WFAN 'Close' To Broadcast Deal For 2014; Mets To Leave Radio Station, Reports Say

The New York Yankees are reportedly close to signing a deal with CBS Radio that would allow local radio station WFAN to broadcast games as early as 2014, according to a new report.

Lonn Trost, chief operating officer of the New York Yankees, told Newsday on Tuesday that the franchise was “close” to reaching a deal regarding its radio broadcast rights but wouldn't confirm that WFAN was involved. "Right now we're in negotiations and everything is confidential," Trost told Newsday. "Part of the agreement we're drafting has a confidentiality agreement. I can't even get into it. I am close with some entity for next year."

Trost reiterated that negotiations were still ongoing and subject to change. "Things have gone in so many directions with this negotiation ... I can't tell you today if it will be the same thing tomorrow,” he told Newsday.

If the Yankees do reach a deal with WFAN, the station would no longer be able to broadcast New York Mets games. WFAN has aired Mets games since the radio station’s debut in 1987.

While Yankees officials have declined to confirm the veracity of Newsday’s report, comments made by Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon seem to support the notion. On Tuesday, Wilpon told Newsday that reports of the Mets’ departure from WFAN were “fairly accurate.”

"There's nothing definitive yet, but it's fairly accurate. Right now we're still negotiating with numerous parties about what we're going to do with our radio rights,” Wilpon told reporters at a New York firehouse, ESPN reports. The Mets COO added that the team hopes to select a new radio home for the franchise within the next six weeks.

While the Mets have yet to reveal their options regarding a replacement for WFAN, Newsday notes, that ESPN Radio and WOR are each in the running for the contract. Clear Channel Communications, which owns WOR, recently bid on the Yankees’ radio rights, Newsday notes.