Massarotti Leaves Herald, Borges Joins WEEI

Major news in the Boston sports media scene yesterday. Boston Herald columnist, and WEEI co-host Tony Massarotti has left the Herald to join the Boston Globe, and he will have to stop his airtime on WEEI. This is a major blow for the Herald who has also just recently lost Rob Bradford to WEEI, in fact according to Scott’s Shots, Mazz was in talks about joining WEEI.com.

Also, first reported by BarStoolSports, former Boston Globe and Bill Belichick hater Ron Borges is now joining WEEI.com as well. Along with Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com.

In yet another stunning blow to the battered Boston Heraldsports section, general columnist and Red Sox specialist, Tony Massarotti is leaving One Herald Square, crossing over Route 93, will land smack dab on Joe Sullivan’s sports staff at the Boston Globe/Boston.com. Adam Reilly at the Phoenix had the inter-Globe memo announcing the move on Thursday evening and Bruce Allen did a nice follow-up as well (including bumps for Amalie Benjamin and Chad Finn) and so did Dan Kennedy.

The switch mean that Mazz’s relationship with WEEI 850 AM will have to cease (due to Globepolicy forbidding appearances on the station, in place since 1999) and it will also diminish whatever role Mazz had on Comcast SportsNet, as he will now be have to give first dibs to NESN.

Interestingly, Massarotti confirmed to Shots that he had been in “extensive” discussions with WEEI.comas well. “Eventually, I had to look at it and say that WEEI.com is a start up. The Boston Globe is a long-established media outlet and they’re not going anywhere,” he said. “I couldn’t see leaving a place I had been for almost 20 years, to go to what is basically a start-up.”

• Scott’s Shots has confirmed the emerging rumor that ex-Boston Globe and accused plagiarist Ron Borges will be part of the re-launched effort at WEEI.com.

“I think (it’s) a pretty bold move,” said WEEI’s Gerry Callahan via email. “I know I look forward to reading him.”