20 Most Valuable Teams In Major League Baseball

Everyone loves going to a baseball game, getting a hot dog, and watching their favorite team take the field. While most always root for the home team, that doesn’t make all teams equal – especially when it comes to their economic value. That’s not to say the most valuable franchises are any better than the home town favorite, it just means they benefit from being located in major population centers, often with major cable deals. So don’t fret – there’s nothing wrong with rooting for your favorite team. However, if you’re curious just which franchises are the most valuable from a business standpoint, you’re in luck: Here are the Top 20 Most Valuable Teams in Major League Baseball.

20. Cincinnati Reds

Coming in at number 20 on our list of most valuable MLB franchises is the Cincinnati Reds, valued at $885 million. Originally known long ago as the “Redlegs”, the Reds make their home in Cincinnati, OH, where MLB was founded over 140 years ago, so it comes as no surprise that the Reds find a spot on this list.

19. San Diego Padres

While recent additions to the team like slugger Matt Kemp and pitcher James Shields certainly help, being located in southern California and some lucrative television distribution deals brings the San Diego Padres in at number 19 on our list. The franchise generates over $35 million a year in operating income and has been estimated to be worth $890 million.

18. Minnesota Twins

Taking the field at Target Field in Minneappolis, the 18th most valuable team in Major League Baseball is the Minnesota Twins. Thanks to its above average record and devoted fan base, The Twins have been assigned a value of $895 million.

17. Pittsburgh Pirates

Watch out for these Pirates when you’re hitting the Three Rivers of Western Pennsylvania, coming in at number 17 on our list is the Pittsburgh Pirates with over $43 million in annual operating income and an estimated value of $900 million.

16. Chicago White Sox

Despite its poor record last year of 73 and 89, coming in the number 16 spot on our list is the Chicago White Sox. The team, which makes its home on the South Side of Chicago, is estimated to have a value of $975 million.

15. Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles have some of the most loyal fans around, with an average attendance to its home games of over 30,000 fans. This, coupled with its stellar record in the 2014 season gives the team an estimated value of a cool $1 billion.

14. Seattle Mariners

Thanks to its recent television distribution deal with Root Sports Northwest, which should net the team over $100 million per season for the next 18 years, the Seattle Mariners come in at number 14 on our list. Net revenues last season came in at $250 million and the team is estimated to be worth $1.1 billion.

13. Detroit Tigers

Thanks to its exceptionally devoted fan base, and aided by its distribution agreement with Fox Sports Detroit, the Detroit Tigers come in the number 13 spot on our list of most valuable Major League Baseball teams estimated to be worth over $1.125 billion.

12. Atlanta Braves

Head south to Atlanta, Georgia, in order to catch a game featuring the number 12 most valuable team on our list: The Atlanta Braves. The team is going to be taking the field at a brand new stadium in 2017 and is currently expected to be worth an eye-popping $1.15 billion.

11. Texas Rangers

Boasting President George W. Bush as a former part owner, the Texas Rangers come in at number 11 on this list. Revenue last year came in at a cool $266 million and the team is estimated to be worth over $1.2 billion dollars.

10. Philadlephia Phillies

Coming in the number 10 spot is the Philadelphia Phillies, aided by a mammoth television distribution deal recently signed with Comcast SportsNet. The deal is said to be worth over $5 billion spread out over the next 25 years, or $200 million per year on average, bringing the team’s value to a whopping $1.25 billion.

9. Washington Nationals

Head to the Nation’s Capital to see our number 9 team take the field: The Washington Nationals. One of Major League Baseball’s newest teams, having been founded just 10 years ago in 2005, The Nationals are estimated to be worth a cool $1.28 billion.

8. Los Angeles Angels

The Los Angeles Angels comes in as the 8th most valuable team in Major League Baseball, with an estimated value of $1.3 billion. Being located in the country’s second most populous city, and the large fan base that implies, helped the Angels break into the top 10.

7. New York Mets

Despite a poor record last year, with 79 wins and 83 losses, the New York Mets take the field as our 7th most valuable team in baseball. Aided by a large television distribution agreement which allows New York Metro Area viewers to catch a game, the Mets are estimated to be worth $1.35 billion.

6. St. Louis Cardinals

Boasting two World Series titles in the last 10 years alone, The St. Louis Cardinals comes in at number 6 on our list with a value of over $1.4 billion on operating income of $73.6 million.

5. Chicago Cubs

It has long been said that visiting Wrigley Field to catch a game featuring our number 5 team is an experience all its own. Supported by a recent partial sale of the team to investors which raised $150 million, the Chicago Cubs are worth a staggering $1.8 billion.

4. San Francisco Giants

The first on our list to be worth at least $2 billion dollars, the 4th most valuable team is the San Francisco Giants. The fact that they won the World Series last year certainly doesn’t hurt the team’s value.

3. Boston Red Sox

Coming in at number 3 is the one and only Boston Red Sox, estimated to be worth an eye-popping $2.1 billion dollars. Despite a tough season in 2014, the Red Sox generated revenues of $370 million and over $49 million in operating income.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

The second LA-based team to grace our list, coming in the number 2 spot is the Los Angeles Dodgers. Having just inked a lucrative 25-year distribution deal with Time Warner Cable, worth $1.9 billion over that time frame, The Dodgers are estimated to be worth $2.4 billion.

1. New York Yankees

It should come as no surprise that the “Bronx Bombers”, the New York Yankees, come in the number 1 spot as the most valuable team in Major League Baseball. Thanks in part to lucrative televisions distribution deals and boasting one of the biggest fan bases in the country, the Yankees are worth a staggering $3.2 billion.