Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox Headline Forbes' List of MLB's Most Valuable Teams
April 9, 2020The Yankees are estimated to be worth $5 billion, up from $4.6 billion in 2019. The top five remains unchanged, as the Los Angeles Dodgers ($3.4 billion), Boston Red Sox ($3.3 billion), Chicago Cubs ($3.2 billion) and San Francisco Giants ($3.1 billion) follow the Bronx Bombers.
Here's the full list:
MLB Team Valuations
1. New York Yankees, $5 billion
2. Los Angeles Dodgers, $3.4 billion
3. Boston Red Sox, $3.3 billion
4. Chicago Cubs, $3.2 billion
5. San Francisco Giants, $3.1 billion
6. New York Mets, $2.4 billion
7. St. Louis Cardinals, $2.2 billion
8. Philadelphia Phillies, $2.0 billion
9. Los Angeles Angels, $1.975 billion
10. Washington Nationals, $1.9 billion
11. Houston Astros, $1.85 billion
12. Atlanta Braves, $1.8 billion
13. Texas Rangers, $1.75 billion
14. Chicago White Sox, $1.65 billion
15. Toronto Blue Jays, $1.625 billion
16. Seattle Mariners, $1.6 billion
17. San Diego Padres, $1.45 billion
18. Baltimore Orioles, $1.4 billion
19. Minnesota Twins, $1.3 billion
20. Arizona Diamondbacks, $1.29 billion
21. Colorado Rockies, $1.275 billion
22. Pittsburgh Pirates, $1.26 billion
23. Detroit Tigers, $1.25 billion
24. Milwaukee Brewers, $1.2 billion
25. Cleveland Indians, $1.15 billion
26. Oakland Athletics, $1.1 billion
27. Cincinnati Reds, $1.075 billion
28. Tampa Bay Rays, $1.05 billion
29. Kansas City Royals, $1.025 billion
30. Miami Marlins, $980 million
Forbes projected the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins to be the only MLB teams whose valuations declined from last year.
Fans in Pittsburgh are beginning to vote with their feet after watching the Pirates miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season and continue selling off their best players. The Pirates averaged 30,846 fans in 2015, their last playoff run, and saw the number fall to 18,412 in 2019.
The Marlins, meanwhile, are still struggling to rebuild their fanbase's trust after the new ownership group, which includes Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, slashed costs immediately after taking control in 2017.
Pittsburgh and Miami's financial futures are unlikely to improve, though they can take some solace in the fact that the rest of the league will be right there with them.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put the 2020 MLB season on hold indefinitely.
ESPN's Jeff Passan reported MLB officials and players have discussed a plan in which every team would play games at stadiums in and around Phoenix, and the regular season would begin as early as May.
However, many have questioned the viability of the idea.
According to Passan, some inside MLB believe June to be a better target date for Opening Day.
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