Thursday, August 13, 2026

Former MLB CFO On Team Valuations and Ownership Trends

Jonathan Mariner is the former Chief Financial Officer of Major League Baseball and one of the most influential financial voices in sports.

In Episode 9 of Portfolio Players, presented by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, Mariner unpacks how rising valuations are reshaping franchise ownership, why the media landscape could destabilize future team revenue, and how corporations are exerting greater influence inside front offices. He also explores the fractured state of college sports—from NIL uncertainty to conference realignment—and the mounting pressure to create a more unified governance model.

From Wall Street-backed team buys to long-term threats in college athletics, this episode examines how media, money, and management are shaping the next era of sports business.

Portfolio Players is Front Office Sports’s original series diving into the deals, capital, and power players redefining the business of sports. Subscribe now for insights from the decision-makers building the future of the game.

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