First Theo Epstein, then Jon Lester and Kyle Schwarber and now Len Kasper?
The 2020 Cubs exodus continued this week with popular TV broadcaster Kasper's departure from the Cubs booth he has shared with Jim Deshaies for the last eight seasons — half of his overall tenure as Cubs play-by-play man following broadcasting gigs with the Marlins and Brewers.
In a move sure to be met with outrage and backlash from loyal viewers on the North Side, Kasper is leaving the newly launched Marquee Network and will join the White Sox radio team as it moves to ESPN 1000 in 2021, multiple sources said Thursday night.
ESPN 1000 is expected to formally announce Kasper's hiring Friday morning.
One source said longtime ESPN and Fox Sports broadcaster Chris Myers will replace Kasper on the Cubs broadcasts, a year after being brought in as a part-time host for Marquee.
It was not immediately clear whether the move was initiated by Marquee or was a power move by ESPN looking to make a high-profile hire with a new radio partner and a team on the field ready to contend.
Kasper, 49, matched Harry Caray's 16-year tenure as a Cubs TV play-by-play broadcaster with the 2020 season. He was the National Sports Media Association's Illinois Sportscaster of the Year in 2016.