Forbes: Yankees worth MLB-high $2.5 billion; Royals 29th at $490M
Forbes ranks the New York Yankees as baseball’s most valuable team for the 17th straight year and lists the Tampa Bay Rays with the lowest valuation.
Forbes said Wednesday it estimates the Yankees are worth $2.5 billion, up 9 percent from last year. The Dodgers are next at $2 billion, a 24 percent hike and matching their actual sale price in 2012.
The Royals have the second-lowest value at $490 million, ahead of the Rays at $485 million.
Boston was third at $1.5 billion, followed by the Chicago Cubs ($1.2 billion), San Francisco ($1 billion) and Philadelphia ($975 million).
Major League Baseball’s average team value rose 9 percent to $811 million. Forbes says values rose primarily because of increased media rights fees.
| Team | 2013 revenue | 2013 operating income/loss | Value |
| 1. N.Y. Yankees | $461 million | $9.1 million (loss) | $2.5 billion |
| 2. LA Dodgers | $293 million | $80.9 million (loss) | $2 billion |
| 3. Boston | $357 million | $25.3 million (income) | $1.5 billion |
| 4. Chicago Cubs | $266 million | $27.3 million (income) | $1.2 billion |
| 5. San Francisco | $316 million | $53.3 million (income) | $1 billion |
| 6. Philadelphia | $265 million | $20.9 million (loss) | $975 million |
| 7. Texas | $257 million | $4.9 million (loss) | $825 million |
| 8. St. Louis | $283 million | $65.2 million (income) | $820 million |
| 9. New York Mets | $238 million | $1.6 million (income) | $800 million |
| 10. LA Angels | $253 million | $5.8 million (income) | $775 million |
| 11. Atlanta | $253 million | $38.4 million (income) | $730 million |
| 12. Seattle | $210 million | $5.3 million (income) | $710 million |
| 13. Washington | $244 million | $22.4 million (income) | $700 million |
| 14. Chicago White Sox | $210 million | $2.7 million (loss) | $695 million |
| 15. Detroit | $262 million | $7.5 million (income) | $680 million |
| 16. Baltimore | $198 million | $1.6 million (income) | $620 million |
| 17. San Diego | $207 million | $33 million (income) | $615 million |
| 18. Toronto | $218 million | $14.9 million (loss) | $610 million |
| 19. Minnesota | $221 million | $30.2 million (income) | $605 million |
| 20. Cincinnati | $209 million | $11.6 million (loss) | $600 million |
| 21. Arizona | $192 million | $5.8 million (loss) | $585 million |
| 22. Colorado | $197 million | $13.7 million (income) | $575 million |
| 23. Pittsburgh | $204 million | $21.8 million (income) | $572 million |
| 24. Cleveland | $196 million | $1.9 million (loss) | $570 million |
| 25. Milwaukee | $197 million | $6.8 million (income) | $565 million |
| 26. Houston | $186 million | $55.9 million (income) | $530 million |
| 27. Miami | $159 million | $8 million (loss) | $500 million |
| 28. Oakland | $187 million | $ 27.4 million (income) | $495 million |
| 29. Royals | $178 million | $6.5 million (loss) | $490 million |
| 30. Tampa Bay | $181 million | $15.3 million (loss) | $485 million |
This story was originally published March 26, 2014 at 4:17 PM with the headline "Forbes: Yankees worth MLB-high $2.5 billion; Royals 29th at $490M."