(Image Source – Getty Images) Baseball is a sport that has been firmly rooted in tradition for a long time. However, if one looks at the sport’s commercial aspect, it is a very modern story. The latest MLB valuations bring out the truth most clearly in the case of two teams that have dissident financial weight but huge fan bases. One team is always redefining the top franchise value standard, whereas the other is gradually progressing but still hasn’t attained the highest level of the sport’s financial hierarchy.The difference is really noticeable, and it extends way past just market size. From the way revenue is made to how brand value is assessed, these figures show why certain teams appear unbeatable year after year. It also brings up a larger question about what really creates value in today’s MLB. Winning championships is important, market size counts, and timing plays a crucial role. However, you only get the complete picture when you dig deeper than the surface numbers.
New York Yankees remain MLB’s most valuable franchise
As per Forbes’ MLB team valuations from March 2025, the New York Yankees are valued at US$8.2 billion, making them the most valuable team in the league for the 27th year in a row since Forbes started these rankings back in 1998.On the other hand, the Toronto Blue Jays are valued at US$2.15 billion, which puts them in 14th place out of the 30 MLB teams. This means the Yankees are worth about 3.8 times more than the Blue Jays.According to Sportico’s MLB team values for March 2025, the Yankees are valued at around US$8.39 billion, while the Blue Jays sit at US$2.39 billion, placing them 13th in the league. This means the Yankees are valued at roughly 3.5 times more than the Blue Jays, showing a similar proportional difference but with higher overall values.
New York Yankees become MLB’s first eight billion dollar franchise
According to Forbes, the Yankees’ value jumped by 9% in 2024, reaching US$8.2 billion, which makes them the first MLB team to go over the US$8 billion threshold. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays experienced a smaller increase of 2%, bringing their valuation to US$2.15 billion during the same timeframe.Sportico highlights a 23% rise for the Dodgers, yet it doesn’t clarify the year-over-year changes for the Yankees or Blue Jays in the details provided; nonetheless, their elevated baseline values correspond with Forbes’ upward trend.
New York Yankees revenue nearly 2.8 times higher than Toronto Blue Jays
Forbes predicts that the Yankees will pull in about US$728 million in revenue for 2024, but they’re also facing an operating loss of US$57 million. On the other hand, the Blue Jays are expected to have a revenue of US$260 million in 2024, along with an operating loss of US$60 million. This really shows how much more the Yankees are making, roughly 2.8 times more than the Blue Jays.Value-to-revenue multiples vary as well: Forbes estimates the Yankees at 11.3 times their revenue, which is the highest in the league, while other teams like the Miami Marlins sit at a lower multiple of 3.3 times.Sportico has reported that the Blue Jays are expected to make US$435 million in revenue for 2024, which is more than what Forbes estimated, highlighting differences in their methods.
How the Steinbrenner family built the New York Yankees into an $8 billion giant
The Steinbrenner family owns the Yankees, and according to Forbes, their valuation includes US$583 million from sports revenue, US$807 million from market size, US$519 million from the stadium, and US$240 million from their brand.On the other hand, the Blue Jays are owned by Rogers Communications, and while their valuation is similar, it’s a bit lower: US$583 million from sports, US$807 million from market size (adjusted for Canada), US$519 million from the stadium, and US$240 million from brand, as per Forbes’ general estimates.Sportico highlights that the Blue Jays are the only MLB team in Canada, mentioning events like Taylor Swift’s concerts in 2024 and shows by Billy Joel and Metallica in 2025, which are helping to increase non-baseball income at Rogers Centre.The Yankees, on the other hand, take advantage of their New York market and their impressive 27 World Series titles, which keeps them consistently at the top.