Peter Gammons’ departure from ESPN today led to immediate speculation on where the 64-year-old would end up next. The answer: the MLB Network. [UPDATE: Gammons will also be joining NESN and NESN.com.] But we’re hearing that is just one of the places he’ll end up. There a buzz in media circles that Gammons is shopping around, looking for a Dan Patrick-type deal: Writing, radio and writing for big bucks.

Gammons, who is universally-liked in the industry, has become a brand. From his platform at ESPN, he has become – arguably – the 2nd most well-known baseball media member behind Los Angeles Dodgers announcer Vin Scully. Gammons can make good money on TV – we hear contract negotiations at ESPN were contentious – but he could make significantly more if he could get a package deal somewhere, where he was presented as an independent, like Patrick.

Where might that be? Forbes speculates that Gammons could end up “with the New England Sports Network, which broadcasts Red Sox games, or even with the Red Sox club itself.”

The logical location for any kind of package deal would be his hometown of Boston.