• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, July 1, 2025

MLB Valuations: Wins Don’t Equate to Dollars

  • All but one MLB team gained value over the last year, according to Forbes’ team valuations.
  • Team values have become increasingly detached from success on the field.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

What does coming within a few innings of winning the World Series get you? When it comes to team value, nothing. 

The Tampa Bay Rays, defending American League Champions and one of the more successful and innovative teams of the last decade, was the only club to show no year-on-year gain in Forbes’ annual MLB team valuations

Contrast that with the Red Sox and Cubs: each struggled through lackluster seasons and recently traded star players to cut back on payroll, but both gained 5% in value over the previous year. They were the third- and fourth-most valuable teams, respectively. The World Series-winning Dodgers were second at $3.57 billion, and the Yankees continued their reign at $5.25 billion, nearly equal to the combined value of the bottom five teams.

The more valuable teams have negotiated more lucrative TV deals, but a handful of mid-market clubs punched above their weight. The White Sox, the 14th-most valuable team at $1.69 billion, trailed only the two L.A. teams in 2020 TV money. The Mariners, just behind the White Sox at 16th, had the 7th-most lucrative TV deal.

With contentious collective bargaining negotiations on the horizon, the list highlights a core source of tension between players and owners: wins have little apparent correlation to team value. Even in a year without fans, 29 out of 30 teams saw their value rise, regardless of how they did in the standings.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

ESPN, MLB Relationship May Not Be Over After All

The parties restart rights talks amid a high-profile divorce in February.
Rob Manfred, Commissioner of the MLB, speaks to the media during Cactus League media day at the Arizona Biltmore on Feb. 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Manfred, MLB Owners Pitch Directly to Players Ahead of CBA Expiration

Owners see a disconnect between union leadership and individual players.

Cohen’s $331M Mets Spiral Into June Swoon Despite Soto Surge

Frustrations rise as the high-spending Mets have lost 13 of 16 games.

MLB’s Hottest Team May Not Be Able to Host Playoff Games

The club’s temporary home in Tampa isn’t equipped for normal postseason demands.

Featured Today

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble
June 28, 2025

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.
June 27, 2025

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena
June 26, 2025

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.
James Harden

Adidas Posts Big Profits in First Quarter Without Yeezy

Profits and sales are up after selling off remaining Yeezys last year.
Oracle Park
March 18, 2025

S.F. Giants Selling Stake to Private Equity to Pay for Facility Upgrades

The team said the cash would not be used to grow payroll.
March 20, 2025

Nike Struggles Continue, but Signs of Turnaround Appear

The embattled company beats tepid expectations in both revenue and earnings.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Aug 11, 2024; Paris, France; Medals are carried out on Louis Vuitton trays after the women's volleyball gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at South Paris Arena
February 16, 2025

LVMH’s New Push: World’s Most Powerful Luxury Group Is Coming for Sports

LVMH is making long-term deals—and they’re not done.
February 14, 2025

DraftKings Turns First Full-Year Profit, Stock Up 47% in 2025

The company’s sports betting business continues to grow despite headwinds.
Billie Jean King
February 13, 2025

Billie Jean King: ‘Billionaires, Not Millionaires’ Are Fueling Women’s Sports Boom

Billie Jean King wants more women involved in team ownership, too.
February 5, 2025

Under Armour’s Desired Turnaround Sees Sparks With Q3 Earnings Beat

The 2010s darling has been struggling to find the right formula.