Dennis Eckersley Signs Five-Year Contract With NESN And Will Call 85 Games Per Year, Rest Of 2019 Team Announced

It's really time to party now.

MLB Hall of Famer and Red Sox color commentator extraordinaire Dennis Eckersley announced today that he has signed a five-year contract with NESN, which will put him in the broadcast booth for EIGHTY-FIVE (85!) games per year:

I'm excited to announce my expanded role with @NESN. I just signed a five year deal to do 85 games, more games than ever! Looking forward to the 2019 season. Repeat! Go @RedSox #redsox

— Dennis Eckersley (@Eck43) February 20, 2019

85 games per year

— Dennis Eckersley (@Eck43) February 20, 2019

In an offseason that's been incredibly slow for the Red Sox (not that they really needed to do anything), this might just be the best news that has come from it. Because everyone loves the Eck here in Boston. He makes broadcasts enjoyable with his constant wit and "Eck-isms" as they've become known. And we're guaranteed five more years with Eck at a rate which we've never seen before. More Eck is always a good thing. I'm all for it. Great news.

Eckersley will join Dave O'Brien and Jerry Remy in the booth for 30 games this season, NESN reported. In addition, former Red Sox players Carlos Pena and Jarrod Saltalamacchia will serve as color analysts for select games.

Tom Caron, Adam Pellerin, Jim Rice, Tim Wakefield, Steve Lyons, Lenny DiNardo, and Manny Delcarmen will serve as pre and post-game analysts, while Guerin Austin and Jahmai Webster will fill the sideline reporting roles.