Yankees Still Kings Of Value, Forbes Values Them At $2.5 Billion; Dodgers 2nd At $2 Billion
NEW YORK (CBSLA/AP) -- Forbes ranks the New York Yankees as baseball's most valuable team for the 17th straight year and lists the Tampa Bay Rays with the lowest valuation.
Forbes said Wednesday it estimates the Yankees are worth $2.5 billion, up 9 percent from last year. The Dodgers are next at $2 billion, a 24 percent hike and matching their actual sale price in 2012.
Boston was third at $1.5 billion, followed by the Chicago Cubs ($1.2 billion), San Francisco ($1 billion) and Philadelphia ($975 million).
At the bottom were the Rays ($485 million), Kansas City ($490 million), Oakland ($495 million) and Miami ($500 million).
Major League Baseball's average team value rose 9 percent to $811 million. Forbes says values rose primarily because of increased media rights fees.
Although the Dodgers are second behind the Yankees, the Blue Crew passed New York for the highest payroll at $235 million.
After this season, the Dodgers' payroll will skyrocket even more because Clayton Kershaw is due $30 million in 2015. He signed a 7-year, $215-milliomn contract in January.
FORBES LIST
1. New York Yankees - $2.5 billion
2. Los Angeles Dodgers - $2 billion
3. Boston Red Sox - $1.5 billion
4. Chicago Cubs - $1.2 billion
5. San Francisco Giants - $1 billion
6. Philadelphia Phillies - $975 million
7. Texas Rangers - $825 million
8. St. Louis Cardinals - $820 million
9. New York Mets - $800 million
10. Los Angeles Angels - $775 million
11. Atlanta Braves - $730 million
12. Seattle Mariners - $710 million
13. Washington Nationals - $700 million
14. Chicago White Sox - $695 million
15. Detroit Tigers - $680 million
16. Baltimore Orioles - $620 million
17. San Diego Padres - $615 million
18. Toronto Blue Jays - $610 million
19. Minnesota Twins - $605 million
20. Cincinnati Reds - $600 million
21. Arizona Diamondbacks - $585 million
22. Colorado Rockies - $575 million
23. Pittsburgh Pirates - $572 million
24. Cleveland Indians - $570 million
25. Milwaukee Brewers - $565 million
26. Houston Astros - $530 million
27. Miami Marlins - $500 million
28. Oakland Athletics - $495 million
29. Kansas City Royals - $490 million
30. Tampa Bay Rays - $485 million
