Fox Sports reportedly gave Skip Bayless a $32 million contract to keep him from going back to ESPN

• ESPN made a push to reunite Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, according to The New York Post.
• Fox Sports reportedly retained Bayless by giving him a four-year, $32 million contract.
• Smith, who reportedly was the driving force behind the pursuit of Bayless, is also said to make around $8 million per year.

Fox Sports spent big to retain Skip Bayless and prevent him from rejoining ESPN, according to The New York Post's Andrew Marchand.

According to Marchand, Fox Sports agreed to a four-year, $32 million contract with Bayless, ensuring he stays on FS1's "Undisputed." He may also get a second daily show in the future.

According to Marchand, the contract came amid a push from ESPN to reunite Bayless with "First Take" star Stephen A. Smith. ESPN reportedly had varying offers out for Bayless, coming between $26 million to $31 million total.

According to Marchand, the negotiations concluded last fall after a months-long process.

Smith was reportedly the "driving force" for the reunion with Bayless. The two provocative stars would have had their own ESPN+ show and made appearances at halftime of "Monday Night Football," according to Marchand. Bayless would not have reunited with Smith on "First Take," according to Marchand.

Bayless left ESPN for FS1 in 2016. Marchand reported that when Bayless left, ESPN attempted to broker a deal where Bayless would still appear on ESPN shows while also doing "Undisputed," but the logistics became too complicated.

According to Marchand, Smith, who now has an ESPN+ show, "Stephen A's World," also makes around $8 million per year.

Marchand reported in November that ESPN laid off 300 people due to the coronavirus pandemic.