MLB.TV Price 2026: What It Cost and What Changed With ESPN

The MLB.TV price for 2026 was $149.99 for the full season or $29.99 a month, the same headline price as 2025, but the way you buy it changed. Starting in 2026, MLB.TV is sold through ESPN, and buyers needed an ESPN Unlimited subscription at the time of purchase. With the season over, this guide recaps what MLB.TV cost, how the ESPN link works, and what to check before automatic renewal kicks in for 2027.

MLB.TV 2026 prices at a glance

Figures below come from ESPN and MLB announcements and reporting during the 2026 season. Prices for 2027 had not been published at the time of writing.

As in past years, the season plan also dropped in price as the season went on, which is common for MLB.TV. That makes the timing of your purchase almost as important as the plan you choose.

What changed: MLB.TV and ESPN Unlimited

Under MLB’s three-year agreement with ESPN, MLB.TV is now sold and streamed through ESPN’s platforms, alongside MLB’s own app. ESPN also took on a package of exclusive national games, mostly on weeknights in the summer.

The key detail for cord cutters: ESPN required ESPN Unlimited to purchase MLB.TV. New MLB.TV buyers received a free month of ESPN Unlimited, and ESPN said you could later drop ESPN Unlimited and keep MLB.TV on its own. ESPN Unlimited itself was around $31.99 a month after a September 2026 price increase. Our ESPN streaming service guide explains what that plan includes beyond baseball.

Many pay TV and live TV customers, including those with Spectrum, DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and Verizon Fios, had ESPN Unlimited access included through their TV plan, which made the requirement painless for them.

What MLB.TV includes

• Every out-of-market regular-season game, live or on demand, subject to blackouts.
• MLB Network 24/7 (season subscribers keep it through the offseason; monthly subscribers through October).
• MLB Big Inning, the whip-around show, activated in the MLB app.
• Select spring training games and some postseason content through the MLB app.
• Multiview, home and away feed choice and in-game stats.
• Streaming on up to three devices at once.

Blackouts and in-market fans

MLB.TV does not show your local team live. Games of teams based in your area are blacked out, and nationally exclusive games on other networks are also restricted. ESPN’s MLB.TV does not include in-market games at all.

For local fans, MLB has been expanding its own in-market streaming. In 2026 it sold local streaming for the teams whose broadcasts it produces at around $99.99 a season or $19.99 a month, with a bundle of local plus out-of-market packages for about $199.99. Other teams sold their own local packages at prices that varied by market. Check your team’s site for the 2027 offer.

Before your plan renews: a checklist

Seasonal plans renew automatically on or around March 1 at the then-current price, and monthly plans restart around the same time. Before that happens:

1. Log in to your ESPN account and check whether auto-renewal is on for MLB.TV.
2. Check whether you still have ESPN Unlimited. If you only kept it for baseball, decide whether you still need it in the offseason.
3. Watch for the 2027 price announcement in winter, and compare the season price with how many months you will really watch.
4. If you follow your local team, check whether it joins MLB’s in-market streaming for 2027.
5. Turn off renewal if you want to wait for the mid-season price drop.

Cheaper ways to watch baseball

MLB.TV is not the only legal option. National games air on broadcast and cable networks, some of which are free with an antenna, and the regional sports networks or team packages cover local games. If you mainly want a handful of marquee matchups, a mix of free over-the-air TV and the national TV partners may cost less than MLB.TV.

Many households also keep one general live TV subscription year-round. Our own IPTV Journal plan is 12 months for $89. Whatever you choose, use licensed sources; unlicensed baseball streams are illegal and tend to cut out in the middle of a rally.

For a wider plan to replace cable, see our cord cutting guide, and if you need a new box for the MLB or ESPN app, our best streaming device guide has picks.

Is MLB.TV worth it for 2027?

For out-of-market fans who watch most of the season, MLB.TV remains good value at around $150 a season, less than a dollar a day over a six-month season. If you start late, wait for the mid-season price cut or go monthly. If you only follow your local team, look at in-market streaming or your regional network instead, because MLB.TV won’t show your team live.

FAQ

How much was MLB.TV in 2026?

MLB.TV cost $149.99 for the season or $29.99 a month in 2026. ESPN Unlimited subscribers paid $134.99 for the season at launch, and prices dropped mid-season for new buyers.

Do I need ESPN Unlimited to get MLB.TV?

In 2026, ESPN required ESPN Unlimited to purchase MLB.TV, with a free month included for new buyers. ESPN said you could cancel ESPN Unlimited later and keep MLB.TV. Check the terms again when 2027 pricing is announced.

Does MLB.TV show my local team?

No. Local team games are blacked out on MLB.TV. Use your regional sports network, MLB’s in-market streaming where available, or your team’s own local package.

When does MLB.TV renew?

Seasonal plans renew automatically on or around March 1 at the then-current price, and monthly plans resume around the same time. Turn off auto-renewal in your account if you don’t want to be charged.

What will MLB.TV cost in 2027?

Prices for 2027 had not been announced at the time of writing. The 2026 season price was $149.99, so check ESPN or MLB.com in late winter for the new figure.