Philly Front Office

Recently, Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein said the quiet part out loud by claiming he just had to get in the baseball business because it was just such a good investment. How good? Well, why don’t we go into how much the owners have/will profit from these investments to see just how much we should weep for the poor billionaires unable to spend on their baseball team.

(CLICK Each Section to Expand)

Recent Sales

• San Diego Padres
  • Purchased in 2026 for $3.9b
  • Previously sold in 2012 for $800m
  • Total Profit in 14 years: $3.1b or 387.5%
• LA Angels
  • Purchased in 2026 for $4b
  • Previously sold in 2003 for $180m
  • Total Profit in 23 years: $3.82b or 2122.2%
• Tampa Bay Rays
  • Purchased in 2025 for $1.7b
  • Previously sold in 2005 for $200m
  • Total Profit in 20 years: $1.5b or 650%
• Baltimore Orioles
  • Purchased in 2024 for $1.725b
  • Previously sold in 1993 for $173m
  • Total Profit in 31 years: $1.552b or 897%
• New York Mets
  • Purchased in 2020 for $2.4b
  • Previously sold at a $500m total valuation in 2012
  • Total Profit in 8 years: $1.9b or 380%

Casual Investments

• Kansas City Royals
  • Last purchased in 2019 for $1b
  • Current Value:¹ $1.64b
  • Total possible profit after 7 years: $640m or 64%
• Miami Marlins
  • Last purchased in 2017 for $1.2b
  • Current Value: $1.5b
  • Total possible profit after 9 years: $300m or 25%
• Seattle Mariners
  • Last purchased in 2016 for $661m
  • Current Value: $2.35b
  • Total possible profit after 10 years: $1.689b or 256%
• LA Dodgers
  • Last purchased in 2012 for $2.15b
  • Current Value: $7.8b
  • Total possible profit after 14 years: $5.35b or $249%
• Houston Astros
  • Last purchased in 2011 for $615m
  • Current Value: $3.2b
  • Total possible profit after 15 years: $2.585b or 420%
• Texas Rangers
  • Last purchased in 2010 for $593m
  • Current Value: $2.7b
  • Total possible profit after 15 years: $2.11b or 355%
• Chicago Cubs
  • Last purchased in 2009 for $845m
  • Current Value: $5b
  • Total possible profit after 17 years: $4.155b or 492%
• Atlanta Braves
  • Last purchased in 2007 for $450m
  • Current Value: $3.35b
  • Total possible profit after 19 years: $2.9b or $645%
• Washington Nationals
  • Last purchased in 2006 for $450m
  • Current Value: $2.15b
  • Total possible profit after 20 years: $1.7b or 377%
• Boston Red Sox
  • Last purchased in 2002 for $700m
  • Current Value: $5.25b
  • Total possible profit after 24 years: $4.55b or 650%
• Toronto Blue Jays
  • Last purchased in 2000 for $112m
  • Current Value: $2.5b
  • Total possible profit after 26 years: $2.39b or 2132%

Cheap, But Not Going Anywhere

• Cincinnati Reds
  • Last purchased in 2006 for $270m
  • Current Value: $1.6b
  • Total possible profit after 20 years: $1.33b or 493%
• Athletics
  • Last purchased in 2005 for $180m
  • Current Value: $2b
  • Total possible profit after 21 years: $1.82b or 1011%
• Milwaukee Brewers
  • Last purchased in 2005 for $223m
  • Current Value: $1.9b
  • Total possible profit after 21 years: $1.677b or 752%
• Cleveland Guardians
  • Last purchased in 2000 for $320m
  • Current Value: $1.68b
  • Total possible profit after 26 years: $1.36b or 425%
• Pittsburgh Pirates
  • Last purchased in 1996 for $92m
  • Current Value: $1.62b
  • Total possible profit after 30 years: $1.528b or 1661%

Nest Eggs

• St. Louis Cardinals
  • Last purchased in 1995 for $150m
  • Current Value: $2.75b
  • Total possible profit after 30 years: $2.6b or 1733%
• Detroit Tigers
  • Last purchased in 1992 for $82m
  • Current Value: $1.8b
  • Total possible profit after 30 years: $1.718b or 2095%
• SF Giants
  • Last purchased in 1992 for $100m
  • Current Value: $4.05b
  • Total possible profit after 30 years: $3.95b or 3950%
• Minnesota Twins
  • Last purchased in 1984 for $44m
  • Current Value: $1.71b
  • Total possible profit after 30 years: $1.667b or 3786%
• Philadelphia Phillies²
  • Last purchased in 1981 for $30m
  • Current Value: $3.4b
  • Total possible profit after 30 years: $3.37b or 11233%
• Chicago White Sox³
  • Last purchased in 1981 for $20m
  • Current Value: $1.94b
  • Total possible profit after 30 years: $1.92b or 9600%
• New York Yankees
  • Last purchased in 1973 for $10m
  • Current Value: $8.5b
  • Total possible profit after 53 years: $8.4b or 84000%

Never Sold

• Colorado Rockies
  • 1992 Expansion Fee: $95m
  • Current Value: $1.68b
  • Total possible profit after 34 years: $1.585b or 1668%
• Arizona Diamondbacks
  • 1995 Expansion Fee: $130m
  • Current Value: $1.96b
  • Total possible profit after 31 years: $1.83b or 1408%

The WORST one on this list is the Miami Marlins and that’s only because Bruce Sherman overpaid for the team when he bought it. Even he has turned a profit due to revenue sharing and a bargain basement payroll. There are only 30 MLB franchises with two more likely coming with expansion prices north of $3b per team. That money goes right to the other owners in the form of a $200m check. It’s good to be in the baseball business, don’t let the owners tell you otherwise.

1. All current values according to Forbes yearly rankings as of 2026 ↩︎
2. The Phillies don’t really count. They were primarily owned by the Giles family but Jon Middleton and family have seen their once small portion grow to just under 50% over the years. Recently, a guy named Stan Middleman bought 33% of the team for around $455m ↩︎
3. Likely to be sold soon, though nothing is official about total control and dollars ↩︎

Sources: Spotrac and Forbes