Major League Baseball Team Valuation vs Winning Performance

Mike Bishop JD
Apr 26
1 min read

This report examines the correlation between Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise valuations and their on-field success over the past decade (2015–2024). It specifically identifies teams whose winning percentages are relatively high compared to their 2025 Forbes franchise valuations, indicating potential undervaluation by market standards.

Overview: Correlation Between Performance and Valuation

While winning records moderately correlate with higher valuations, other major factors—such as market size, brand strength, stadium deals, and media revenues—also play critical roles. Thus, it is possible for a team with a strong winning percentage to be undervalued relative to its achievements.

MLB Team Performance vs Valuation (2015–2024)

Key Observations

- Teams like the Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Guardians, and Milwaukee Brewers outperform their market valuations significantly, indicating strong internal management and player development.- High-performing teams in large markets like the Dodgers and Yankees show high absolute valuations but are relatively fairly priced given their on-field results.- Some teams with large valuations (e.g., the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs) have moderate win rates, suggesting valuation driven more by brand and market size than recent performance.

Conclusion

Although there is a meaningful correlation between winning percentage and franchise value, other variables—including market size, legacy brand, and profitability—heavily influence a team's market worth. Identifying undervalued teams could point to opportunities for investment, management case studies, or future market corrections.