Clayton Kershaw, Joey Votto, Anthony Rizzo Sign NBC Sports Contracts for MLB TV Roles

NBC is adding some star power to its lineup for its return to baseball coverage.

NBC Sports has finalized deals with Clayton Kershaw, Anthony Rizzo and Joey Votto to be featured as part of its baseball coverage this fall. Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports first reported the deals.

NBC will return to MLB coverage for the first time in 26 years when it takes over Sunday Night Baseball and broadcasts the Wild Card playoff round.

Kershaw certainly understands better than most what it is like to take the field during the playoffs having just won the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is a pitching legend with a resume that includes three World Series titles, a National League MVP, three NL Cy Young awards, five ERA titles and 11 All-Star selections.

He was one of the faces of baseball throughout his career and could be a draw for plenty of fans tuning in for NBC's coverage even though McCarthy reported he "is expected to work a limited schedule."

As for Rizzo, he will bring an engaging personality to the table as a former Roberto Clemente Humanitarian Award winner who was front and center for much of his career on two of the most notable teams in baseball in the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees.

Rizzo is best known for being one of the leaders of the 2016 Cubs that snapped a 108-year World Series championship drought, but he starred for much of his career as a four-time Gold Glover with seven seasons of 25 or more home runs.

While Rizzo and Kershaw were the faces of major-market teams that are constantly being featured across national media, it may actually be Votto who is the biggest addition for NBC.

After all, McCarthy reported the former Cincinnati Reds first baseman "has been eyed as the No. 1 TV prospect by MLB media partners NBC, Netflix and ESPN."

One sports producer even said, "Joey Votto is, in my opinion, a no-brainer. He's an MVP. He has a national name. He's a natural in front of the camera."

Now he will have a chance to prove just how natural he can be as part of NBC's coverage.