Phillies Among MLB's Most Valuable Teams In 2026, Forbes Says

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Phillies are one of the most valuable teams in Major League Baseball, a new analysis from Forbes shows just days out from Opening Day.

The Phillies remain the 7th most valuable franchise in baseball in 2026, increasing $300 million from last year to $3.4 billion altogether, the study shows. That exactly parallels the year over year growth of the New York Mets, owned by the richest owner in MLB, hedge fundsman Steve Cohen.

Perhaps more impressively, the Phils have nearly tripled their $1.25 billion valuation from 2015, when they were ranked 10th overall.

Related: Phillies 2026 Opening Day: How To Watch, Season Preview, World Series Odds

MLB franchises are increasing in value across the board (the league-leading New York Yankees are now worth $8.5 billion), but that doesn't tell the whole story. Signing Bryce Harper in 2018 reignited passion for the Phillies in what has always been a baseball city. Those frustrated by this Phillies squad not quite getting over the hump and winning a championship may forget the dramatic difference between attending a game at Citizens Bank Park from 2015 to 2019, and then the drastic difference again in the summer of 2025.

The data backs up the obvious. The Phillies had the fourth highest cumulative attendance in 2025, according to ESPN. They were behind only the Yankees, Dodgers, and San Diego Padres, all of whom have larger stadiums.

Investing in superstars like Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner J.T. Realmuto, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola has paid off in a big way on the field, too, as the Phils have made four consecutive playoff appearances and won two straight National League East division titles.

Despite being 7th on the list, the Phillies maintain the 4th highest payroll, entering 2026 at $309.5 million, punching at the weight of the biggest market teams in LA and New York.

See also: Philly Style Represents The Best Of America At World Baseball Classic

And the future looks bright. Signs indicate that as long as the Phillies are competitive, they'll be lucrative. Just this March, they've extended the contracts of two of best pitchers in baseball, Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo, through 2032. Even if they underperform in other areas, strong starting pitching establishes a competitive floor for years to come.

Forbes shows Philly's $300 million growth last year as a 10 percent improvement, with a revenue of $539 million and operating income of $52 million.

Here's the top 10 ranking from Forbes for 2026:

1. New York Yankees: $8.5 billion
2. Los Angeles Dodgers: $7.8 billion
3. Boston Red Sox: $5.25 billion
4. Chicago Cubs: $5 billion
5. San Francisco Giants: $4.05 billion
6. New York Mets: $3.5 billion
7. Philadelphia Phillies: $3.4 billion
8. Atlanta Braves: $3.35 billion
9. Houston Astros: $3.2 billion
10. San Diego Padres: $3.1 billion

At the bottom of the rankings are the Miami Marlins, with a value of $1.5 billion. Others in the bottom five are the Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, and Cleveland Guardians.

The growing profitability and popularity of baseball is threatened by the pending expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement at the end of the 2026 season. Many expect negotiations between owners and the player's union to sour to the point of a strike. A particular point of contention is the notion of a salary cap, which many owners want to prevent wealthier and more free-spending owners, like the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Phillies, and Blue Jays, from giving out exorbitant contracts.

The player's union, in turn, is fiercely opposed to the measure, and billionaire owners have been accused of being unwilling to invest properly in their franchises and players.