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Forbes magazine had its annual ranking of MLB franchises by value. Not surprisingly, the New York Yankees topped their list with a value of $1.2 billion. The magazine estimates that the new Yankee Stadium will expand the team's revenue by $50 million per year.
The Mets were second at $736 million. The Red Sox were third at $724 million and the Dodgers fourth at $632 million. The Marlins are 30th at $244 million.
According to Forbes, the Kansas City Royals have lost 659 games in the last seven years and TRIPLED in value.
The Marlins did not like being last:
"As usual, the franchise valuations and operating income numbers are pure fantasy and based on no correct information," Marlins president David Samson said. "To comment on such irresponsible journalism would only give it more credit than it deserves."
The Yankees didn't mind being first:
"I am gratified at the Forbes valuation of the Yankees," New York owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement. "We are continuing to build a worldwide brand for the people of New York and Yankee fans everywhere."
Meanwhile, now Mark Cuban and any other interested parties have a ballpark figure of what it's going to take to buy the Cubs (who were 5th at $592M).
Why would the Yankees want to claim to be the highest ranked when it means that everyone else will hate them more?
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