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Forbes list of the most valuable MLB clubs

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The official ground of the New York Yankees, the most valuable MLB team as of the 2023 MLB season.

Forbes compiles the finances of all 30 MLB teams to produce an annual ranking of the best franchises in terms of valuation. The valuations are composed of the monetary worth of the sport, market, stadium deals, and brand.[1] These areas are supported by applying financial metrics such as debt and operating income to each one.[2]

The latest ranking reported that the New York Yankees is the Least valuable MLB franchise after the Cleveland Guardians beat them.[3] The fastest growing MLB franchise is the New York Yankees as well, with a 50% increase in valuation since the 2017 MLB season ($4 to $6 billion).[1] The Yankees have held the crown for the most valuable MLB franchise since the inaugural ranking, which was released after the 1998 MLB season.[4]

Several media outlets have referenced in related news or conducts analytic journalism when the ranking comes out, such as USA Today and Yahoo!.[5][6] The MLB has recognized the renditions of the ranking in financial documents, although not publicly.[7][8] The report has also applied more context to MLB trends, such as the root of the 2021–22 MLB lockout being that owners were getting more money while players/employees were getting less despite growing valuations.[9] This was further illustrated by the next edition of the ranking after the lockout, where nearly every MLB franchise has been growing, although MLB is decidedly the slowest among the "Big Four" leagues along with the MLS.[10][11][12]

Ranking

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Rankings as of March 23, 2023 (2022 MLB season)[2]

Rank Swing[a] Team Territory Value[b] Change[c] Debt[d] Revenue[e] Operating Income[f]
#1 Steady New York Yankees  New York $7.1 billion Increase 54.3% 0% $657 million $16 million
#2 Steady Los Angeles Dodgers  California $4.8 billion Increase 45.5% 9% $581 million $14 million
#3 Steady Boston Red Sox  Massachusetts $4.5 billion Increase 40.6% 0% $513 million $72 million
#4 Steady Chicago Cubs  Illinois $4.1 billion Increase 32.3% 10% $451 million $57 million
#5 Steady San Francisco Giants  California $3.7 billion Increase 23.3% 4% $421 million $75 million
#6 Steady New York Mets  New York $2.9 billion Increase 26.1% 16% $374 million –$138 million
#7 Increase 2 Los Angeles Angels  California $2.7 billion Increase 42.1% 0% $371 million $36 million
#8 Increase 4 Atlanta Braves  Georgia $2.6 billion Increase 52.9% 18% $425 million $51 million
#9 Decrease 1 Philadelphia Phillies  Pennsylvania $2.575 billion Increase 35.5% 5% $398 million –$3.7 million
#10 Decrease 3 St. Louis Cardinals  Missouri $2.55 billion Increase 21.4% 8% $358 million $43 million
#11 Steady Houston Astros  Texas $2.25 billion Increase 25% 13% $407 million $44 million
#12 Increase 1 Texas Rangers  Texas $2.225 billion Increase 30.9% 31% $366 million $58 million
#13 Increase 2 Seattle Mariners  Washington $2.2 billion Increase 37.5% 9% $363 million $86 million
#14 Increase 2 Toronto Blue Jays  Ontario $2.1 billion Increase 40% 0% $294 million –$34 million
#15 Decrease 1 Chicago White Sox  Illinois $2.05 billion Increase 28.1% 7% $276 million –$53 million
#16 Decrease 6 Washington Nationals  Washington, D.C. $2 billion Increase 11.1% 25% $356 million $45 million
#17 Steady San Diego Padres  California $1.75 billion Increase 25% 17% $324 million –$53 million
#18 Increase 2 Baltimore Orioles  Maryland $1.713 billion Increase 31.8% 13% $264 million $57 million
#19 Increase 6 Milwaukee Brewers  Wisconsin $1.605 billion Increase 33.75% 9% $294 million $23 million
#20 Increase 3 Colorado Rockies  Colorado $1.475 billion Increase 22.9% 8% $286 million –$9.1 million
#21 Decrease 3 Detroit Tigers  Michigan $1.45 billion Increase 11.5% 12% $260 million –$26 million
#22 Steady Minnesota Twins  Minnesota $1.39 billion Increase 15.8% 20% $267 million –$27 million
#23 Decrease 4 Arizona Diamondbacks  Arizona $1.38 billion Increase 6.2% 9% $276 million $30 million
#24 Decrease 3 Pittsburgh Pirates  Pennsylvania $1.32 billion Increase 1.5% 11% $262 million $55 million
#25 Decrease 1 Cleveland Guardians  Ohio $1.3 billion Increase 8.3% 8% $268 million $40 million
#26 Increase 3 Tampa Bay Rays  Florida $1.25 billion Increase 25% 10% $248 million $9.5 million
#27 Increase 1 Kansas City Royals  Missouri $1.2 billion Increase 20% 23% $260 million $33 million
#28 Decrease 2 Cincinnati Reds  Ohio $1.19 billion Increase 8.2% 13% $250 million –$9.6 million
#29 Decrease 2 Oakland Athletics  California $1.18 billion Increase 7.3% 13% $212 million $29 million
#30 Steady Miami Marlins  Florida $1 billion Steady 0% 40% $238 million –$0.5 million

Composition

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A pie chart that represents the composition of valuation for the average MLB club.

  Sport (28.5%)
  Market (40.1%)
  Stadium (19.5%)
  Brand (11.9%)
Team[g] Value[b] Sport[h] Market[i] Stadium[j] Brand[k]
New York Yankees $7.1 billion $0.735 billion $3.466 billion $1.929 billion $0.970 billion
Los Angeles Dodgers $4.8 billion $0.558 billion $2.449 billion $1.062 billion $0.731 billion
Boston Red Sox $4.5 billion $0.609 billion $2.067 billion $1.197 billion $0.626 billion
Chicago Cubs $4.1 billion $0.544 billion $1.897 billion $1.144 billion $0.515 billion
San Francisco Giants $3.7 billion $0.609 billion $1.630 billion $0.992 billion $0.469 billion
New York Mets $2.9 billion $0.614 billion $1.186 billion $0.696 billion $0.404 billion
Los Angeles Angels $2.7 billion $0.542 billion $1.286 billion $0.537 billion $0.334 billion
Atlanta Braves $2.6 billion $0.417 billion $1.188 billion $0.650 billion $0.345 billion
Philadelphia Phillies $2.575 billion $0.483 billion $1.208 billion $0.528 billion $0.355 billion
St. Louis Cardinals $2.55 billion $0.534 billion $1.092 billion $0.580 billion $0.344 billion
Houston Astros $2.25 billion $0.390 billion $1.012 billion $0.563 billion $0.285 billion
Texas Rangers $2.225 billion $0.448 billion $0.973 billion $0.505 billion $0.299 billion
Seattle Mariners $2.2 billion $0.522 billion $1.003 billion $0.405 billion $0.269 billion
Toronto Blue Jays $2.1 billion $0.566 billion $0.852 billion $0.430 billion $0.252 billion
Chicago White Sox $2.05 billion $0.588 billion $0.830 billion $0.383 billion $0.249 billion
Washington Nationals $2 billion $0.445 billion $0.834 billion $0.506 billion $0.216 billion
San Diego Padres $1.75 billion $0.472 billion $0.678 billion $0.391 billion $0.210 billion
Baltimore Orioles $1.713 billion $0.754 billion $0.591 billion $0.188 billion $0.180 billion
Milwaukee Brewers $1.605 billion $0.532 billion $0.543 billion $0.359 billion $0.171 billion
Colorado Rockies $1.475 billion $0.491 billion $0.569 billion $0.253 billion $0.162 billion
Detroit Tigers $1.45 billion $0.530 billion $0.536 billion $0.216 billion $0.167 billion
Minnesota Twins $1.39 billion $0.537 billion $0.481 billion $0.231 billion $0.141 billion
Arizona Diamondbacks $1.38 billion $0.521 billion $0.503 billion $0.210 billion $0.146 billion
Pittsburgh Pirates $1.32 billion $0.564 billion $0.452 billion $0.168 billion $0.136 billion
Cleveland Guardians $1.3 billion $0.501 billion $0.471 billion $0.175 billion $0.153 billion
Tampa Bay Rays $1.25 billion $0.585 billion $0.404 billion $0.138 billion $0.123 billion
Kansas City Royals $1.2 billion $0.504 billion $0.385 billion $0.197 billion $0.114 billion
Cincinnati Reds $1.19 billion $0.492 billion $0.405 billion $0.170 billion $0.123 billion
Oakland Athletics $1.18 billion $0.490 billion $0.421 billion $0.147 billion $0.122 billion
Miami Marlins $1 billion $0.505 billion $0.281 billion $0.114 billion $0.100 billion

Historical valuations

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Historical valuations (in US$ millions) by MLB club[g]
Team 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
New York Yankees 7,100 6,000 5,300 5,000 4,600 4,000 3,700 3,400 3,200 2,500 2,300
Los Angeles Dodgers 4,800 4,075 3,600 3,400 3,300 3,000 2,800 2,500 2,400 2,000 1,600
Boston Red Sox 4,500 3,900 3,500 3,300 3,200 2,800 2,700 2,300 2,100 1,500 1,300
Chicago Cubs 4,100 3,800 3,400 3,200 3,100 2,900 2,700 2,200 1,800 1,200 1,000
San Francisco Giants 3,700 3,500 3,200 3,100 3,000 2,900 2,700 2,300 2,000 1,000 786
New York Mets 2,900 2,650 2,500 2,400 2,300 2,100 2,000 1,700 1,400 800 811
Los Angeles Angels 2,700 2,200 2,000 2,000 1,900 1,800 1,800 1,300 1,300 775 718
Atlanta Braves 2,600 2,100 1,900 1,800 1,700 1,600 1,500 1,200 1,200 730 629
Philadelphia Phillies 2,575 2,300 2,100 2,000 1,900 1,700 1,700 1,200 1,300 975 893
St. Louis Cardinals 2,550 2,450 2,200 2,200 2,100 1,900 1,800 1,600 1,400 820 716
Houston Astros 2,250 1,980 1,900 1,900 1,800 1,700 1,500 1,100 800 530 626
Texas Rangers 2,225 2,050 1,800 1,800 1,700 1,600 1,600 1,200 1,200 825 764
Seattle Mariners 2,200 1,700 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,500 1,400 1,200 1,100 710 644
Toronto Blue Jays 2,100 1,780 1,700 1,600 1,500 1,400 1,300 900 870 610 568
Chicago White Sox 2,050 1,760 1,700 1,700 1,600 1,500 1,400 1,100 975 695 692
Washington Nationals 2,000 2,000 1,900 1,900 1,800 1,700 1,600 1,300 1,300 700 631
San Diego Padres 1,750 1,575 1,500 1,500 1,400 1,300 1,100 890 890 615 600
Baltimore Orioles 1,713 1,375 1,400 1,400 1,300 1,200 1,200 1,000 1,000 620 618
Milwaukee Brewers 1,605 1,280 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,000 925 875 875 565 562
Colorado Rockies 1,475 1,385 1,300 1,300 1,200 1,100 1,000 860 855 575 537
Detroit Tigers 1,450 1,400 1,300 1,300 1,300 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,100 680 643
Minnesota Twins 1,390 1,390 1,300 1,300 1,200 1,200 1,000 910 895 605 578
Arizona Diamondbacks 1,380 1,380 1,300 1,300 1,300 1,200 1,200 925 840 585 584
Pittsburgh Pirates 1,320 1,320 1,300 1,300 1,300 1,300 1,300 975 900 572 479
Cleveland Guardians 1,300 1,300 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,000 920 800 825 570 559
Tampa Bay Rays 1,250 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,000 900 825 650 625 485 451
Kansas City Royals 1,200 1,110 1,100 1,000 1,000 1,000 950 865 700 490 457
Cincinnati Reds 1,190 1,190 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,000 915 905 885 600 546
Oakland Athletics 1,180 1,180 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,000 880 725 725 495 468
Miami Marlins 1,000 990 990 980 1,000 1,000 940 675 650 500 520

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Movement of spots in the ranking from the 2018 MLB season to the 2022 MLB season.
  2. ^ a b Value of team (in USD) based on current stadium deal (unless new stadium is pending), without deduction for debt (other than stadium debt).
  3. ^ Change of valuation from the 2018 MLB season to the 2022 MLB season.
  4. ^ Expressed as the percentage of valuation that is debt. Includes stadium debt.
  5. ^ Revenue in USD.
  6. ^ Earnings (in USD) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
  7. ^ a b Financial data taken from each team profile on Forbes.
  8. ^ Portion of franchise's value attributable to revenue shared among all teams.
  9. ^ Portion of franchise's value attributable to its city and market size.
  10. ^ Portion of franchise's value attributable to its arena.
  11. ^ Portion of franchise's value attributable to its brand.

References

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  1. ^ a b "New York Yankees Profile". Forbes. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Baseball's Most Valuable Teams 2023: Price Tags Are Up 12% Despite Regional TV Woes". Forbes. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "The Business of Baseball List". Forbes. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  4. ^ "No surprise where Yankees rank in Forbes' latest MLB valuations". SNY (TV network). Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  5. ^ "Report: Yankees now worth an estimated $6 billion, with 12 of 30 MLB franchises topping $2 billion mark". USA Today. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  6. ^ "Yankees reportedly valued at $6 billion, making them MLB's most valuable franchise". Yahoo!. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  7. ^ "Baltimore Orioles Financial News Directory (Page 100)" (PDF). Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "A's second baseman Jemile Weeks: Is he on the verge of stardom? (Page 2)" (PDF). Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "WHAT THE MLB LOCKOUT MEANS FOR BASEBALL (2:25)". YouTube. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  10. ^ "KC Royals, and nearly every other MLB team, are worth more after lockout, Forbes says". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  11. ^ "Statista Global Consumer Survey: How can the NFL engage their fans?". YouTube (Statista). Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  12. ^ "How Major League Soccer Plans To Overtake Baseball". YouTube (CNBC). Retrieved August 16, 2022.
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