Spring Training begins later this month, and for 2026, baseball’s out-of-market streaming just landed on a new home.
Cord cutters and casual fans can now stream live out-of-market games on MLB.TV right from the ESPN app. This change follows a new rights deal between MLB and ESPN, reached late last year after ESPN opted out of its previous agreement.
“ESPN and MLB have a partnership rooted in decades of delivering marquee baseball moments to fans,” said Rosalyn Durant, Executive Vice President, ESPN Programming & Acquisitions. “With MLB.TV now available through ESPN, we’re taking a significant step forward in reinforcing ESPN as the home of the MLB regular season while deepening the value proposition of the ESPN Unlimited plan – giving fans even more flexibility in how and where they watch all season long.”
With MLB.TV in the ESPN ecosystem, here’s everything you need to know about the launch and smart tips, so you don’t pay more than you need.
What’s New for MLB.TV in 2026?
Previously, MLB.TV was purchased and run through MLB’s own platforms. Now, ESPN is the new streaming home for MLB.TV, and cord cutters can purchase a Seasonal or Monthly subscription to MLB.TV through ESPN’s platforms. Games will be discoverable inside the ESPN App with ESPN’s UI features (multiview, integrated stats, home/away feed selection, catch-up-to-live, fantasy info, and more). ESPN is positioning MLB.TV as part of the broader ESPN experience, in turn, boosts the perceived value for ESPN Unlimited subscribers.
Quick Summary
- Launch Date: MLB.TV launched on ESPN on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
- Price points: $149.99 for the full season purchase (new subscribers), $29.99/month for monthly access; ESPN Unlimited subscribers can buy the seasonal MLB.TV for $134.99. New MLB.TV purchases include one month of free ESPN Unlimited.
- MLB.TV on ESPN includes out-of-market live games, on-demand VOD, MLB Big Inning, and access to MLB Network through the World Series (and other MLB content integrations). Single-team packages remain available only through MLB.com.
MLB.TV Plans, Pricing, Free-Trial Details & More
- Seasonal (one-time, renews seasonally): $149.99. New seasonal purchases come with 1 month free of ESPN Unlimited.
- Monthly: $29.99/month with a 1-month free ESPN Unlimited trial for new MLB.TV buyers.
- If you already subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: You can get MLB.TV for $134.99 for the 2026 season (renewing at the then-current price).
- Important: New MLB.TV purchasers get the ESPN Unlimited free month, but you do not need to keep ESPN Unlimited to retain MLB.TV. If you decide to cancel ESPN after the trial, it will not remove your MLB.TV access. Always read the cancellation fine print before the trial ends to avoid unexpected renewals.
What’s Included with MLB.TV in 2026 (and What Isn’t)
- Included via ESPN purchase: Every out-of-market game live or on demand, MLB Big Inning highlights/content, audio feeds, and 24/7 access to certain MLB content (MLB Network access is included through the World Series per current terms). The ESPN App integrates MLB.TV games with ESPN features (multiview, stats, fantasy).
- Not included on ESPN: MLB.TV Single-Team packages are only available via MLB.com and are not sold by ESPN. If you only want one team’s single-team plan, buy it on MLB.com.
- Blackouts and regional limits: MLB.TV has a new streaming home, but don’t expect blackout rules to disappear. Blackouts and other restrictions still apply. That means if you live inside a team’s local market, some games may be blacked out (local broadcast rights still govern availability). Use MLB’s blackout lookup (enter your ZIP) before you buy to confirm which teams/games are restricted at your location.
- Where you can watch (devices & activation): MLB.TV will be discoverable across most ESPN connected-TV and mobile experiences. The ESPN App supports a broad list of devices (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Android TV/Google TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and many smart TVs), so you should be able to stream on phones, tablets, web browsers, and major streaming boxes. If your TV doesn’t have a current ESPN app, use a streaming stick or console. If you already get ESPN via a TV provider, link your accounts and devices.
How to Buy & Activate MLB.TV in 2026 (Quick Checklist)
- Decide monthly vs seasonal (seasonal saves money if you watch all year).
- If you don’t already have ESPN Unlimited and want a trial, buy MLB.TV through ESPN to get the 1-month ESPN Unlimited trial. Remember to cancel before the month ends if you don’t want ESPN to auto-renew at $29.99/mo.
- Activate the ESPN App on your preferred device and sign in with the account you used to purchase MLB.TV. If you have ESPN through a TV provider, you can activate ESPN through the provider and access the content at no extra charge.
- If you run into blackouts or errors, confirm your location/ZIP on MLB’s blackout lookup and ensure you’re not using a VPN.
