Yankees Make History With $8.2B Valuation While White Sox Hit Rock Bottom
New York, New York
The Bronx Bombers may have missed out on another ring, but when it comes to cold, hard cash, the New York Yankees remain untouchable. Forbes has once again crowned the Yankees as MLB’s most valuable franchise, this time making history as the first baseball team ever to break the $8 billion barrier. With a jaw-dropping $8.2 billion valuation, the Yankees continue their reign as baseball’s financial powerhouse, proving once again that pinstripes print money.
No one should be shocked. The Los Angeles Dodgers may have been splurging on free agents and dominating the field, but they’re still looking up at the Yankees in the financial game. The Yankees have topped Forbes’ MLB list every single year since 1998, and with baseball’s biggest brand behind them, it’s hard to see that changing anytime soon. The Dodgers come in second at $6.8 billion, with the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, and San Francisco Giants rounding out the top five.
Meanwhile, a sleeping giant is rising in the desert. The Oakland Athletics saw the biggest leap in value, climbing 50% to hit $1.8 billion, thanks to their impending move to Las Vegas. While they won’t officially land in Sin City until 2028, their transition is already paying dividends in the valuation game. Until then, the A’s will call Sacramento home, sharing Sutter Health Park with the Triple-A River Cats. It’s a nomadic stretch for a franchise desperate for stability, but Las Vegas’ bright lights promise a lucrative future.
Not every team is thriving, though. The Chicago White Sox just made the kind of history no franchise wants—becoming the only MLB team to lose value in 2025. After a brutal season that set the record for most losses in MLB history, their valuation dropped by 2% to $2 billion. Longtime owner Jerry Reinsdorf is reportedly open to selling, and billionaire Mat Ishbia is sniffing around. The Ishbia family, who already own the Phoenix Suns, could land themselves a major-league team at a relative discount—if they move fast.
For the rest of the league, the money keeps flowing, with teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, and Tampa Bay Rays holding steady in value. But in an era where spending big is the key to winning big, the Yankees’ financial dominance proves one thing: when it comes to baseball’s biggest empire, the bank is always open.
