After an offseason of lockout-induced drama and uncertainty over the 2022 season, the recent adoption of a new collective bargaining agreement for Major League Baseball has satisfied all parties involved with immediate results, as reflected in Forbes' annual report of the most valuable teams in baseball for 2022.
With the new CBA introducing both advertising jersey patches and helmet decals as new sources of sponsorship revenue, the average value of Major League Baseball teams has increased nine percent over last year, bringing it to an all-time high $2.07 billion. The expected financial windfall from new revenue generated from sponsorship revenue, the expansion of the playoffs, and new streaming deals is expected to help teams recover financially after the COVID-19 pandemic caused revenue losses in 2020 and 2021.
Leading the way among MLB's most valuable teams are none other than the New York Yankees, who have become the first baseball team worth a total of $6 billion. The Yankees are followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers ($4.075 billion), Boston Red Sox ($3.9 billion), Chicago Cubs ($3.8 billion), and San Francisco Giants ($3.5 billion). The top 10 most valuable teams are rounded out by the New York Mets ($2.65 billion), St. Louis Cardinals ($2.45 billion), Philadelphia Phillies ($2.3 billion), Los Angeles Angels ($2.2 billion), and Atlanta Braves ($2.1 billion).
Leading the way in an increase in value were the Texas Rangers, whose value increased 15 percent after the team led the American League in average attendance and had the fourth-highest average attendance in baseball with the opening of Globe Life Field.
For their methodology, Forbes calculated MLB team value through enterprise values calculated using a multiple of revenue based on historical transactions as well as the future economics of baseball and its teams.
