The TV "rights party in baseball continues to boost team values," as the average MLB franchise is now worth $811M, 9% more than last year, according to Mike Ozanian of FORBES. For the first time, there "are five teams -- each with lucrative deals" with RSNs worth at least $1B. The increase "in team values is more than double the 4.4% gain in average revenue per team," to $237M last season, "because new local television deals" for the Dodgers and Mariners begin this season, while the Phillies’ "new cable pact" begins with the '16 season. The Yankees, worth $2.5B, are "baseball’s most valuable team, as they have been each of the 17 years Forbes has compiled this scorecard." Including the annual average of the $400M "upfront payment the team got for agreeing to sell its controlling stake in the YES Network, the team raked in" over $100M in cable money last season. The Dodgers "place second" on the list with a value of $2B. The Mets, Astros and Marlins were the only three teams that "fell in value over the past year" (FORBES.com, 3/29).
| '14 FORBES MLB TEAM VALUATIONS |
| CLUB | VALUE | 1-YEAR % +/- | DEBT/VALUE | REVENUE | OPERATING
INCOME |
| Yankees | $2.5B | 9% | 1% | $461M | -$9.1M |
| Dodgers | $2.0B | 24% | 20% | $293M | -$80.9M |
| Red Sox | $1.5B | 14% | 0% | $357M | $25.3M |
| Cubs | $1.2B | 20% | 35% | $266M | $27.3M |
| Giants | $1.0B | 27% | 9% | $316M | $53.3M |
| Phillies | $975M | 9% | 10% | $265M | -$20.9M |
| Rangers | $825M | 8% | 20% | $257M | -$4.9M |
| Cardinals | $820M | 15% | 35% | $283M | $65.2M |
| Mets | $800M | -1% | 44% | $238M | $1.6M |
| Angels | $775M | 8% | 4% | $253M | $5.8M |
| Braves | $730M | 16% | 0% | $253M | $38.4M |
| Mariners | $710M | 10% | 2% | $210M | $5.3M |
| Nationals | $700M | 11% | 49% | $244M | $22.4M |
| White Sox | $695M | 0% | 1% | $210M | -$2.7M |
| Tigers | $680M | 6% | 26% | $262M | $7.5M |
| Orioles | $620M | 0% | 24% | $198M | $1.6M |
| Padres | $615M | 2% | 31% | $207M | $33.0M |
| Blue Jays | $610M | 7% | 0% | $218M | -$14.9M |
| Twins | $605M | 5% | 37% | $221M | $30.2M |
| Reds | $600M | 10% | 7% | $209M | -$11.6M |
| D-Backs | $586M | 0% | 25% | $192M | -$5.8M |
| Rockies | $575M | 7% | 11% | $197M | $13.7M |
| Pirates | $572M | 19% | 16% | $204M | $21.8M |
| Indians | $570M | 2% | 15% | $196M | -$1.9M |
| Brewers | $565M | 1% | 9% | $197M | $6.8M |
| Astros | $530M | -15% | 49% | $186M | $55.9M |
| Marlins | $500M | -4% | 44% | $159M | -$8.0M |
| A's | $495M | 6% | 13% | $187M | $27.4M |
| Royals | $490M | 7% | 11% | $178M | -$6.5M |
| Rays | $485M | 8% | 28% | $181M | $15.3M |
