Study Says Yankees Worth $849 Million

The New York Yankees are by far the most valuable team in baseball, worth more than twice as much as 26 of the other 29 clubs, according to a study by Forbes Magazine.

In a story for its April 28 edition, Forbes estimated the worth of the Yankees at $849 million -- $351 million more than the next-most valuable team, the New York Mets ($498 million).

The Boston Red Sox were third, at $488 million, followed by the Dodgers ($449 million) and the Atlanta Braves ($423 million). The Angels were 20th, at $225 million.

According to Forbes, the most profitable team in baseball last year was the Seattle Mariners, which made $23.3 million. The Yankees were next at $16.1 million, followed by the San Francisco Giants ($13.9 million), the Baltimore Orioles ($12.4 million), the Chicago Cubs ($11.9 million) and the Mets ($11.6 million).

The Dodgers were the biggest losers, with an operating deficit of $25 million. Their owner, News Corp., is interested in selling.

The Texas Rangers were next at $24.5 million, followed by the Toronto Blue Jays ($23.9 million), the Arizona Diamondbacks ($22.2 million) and the Florida Marlins ($14 million). The Angels had a deficit of $3.5 million.

The Montreal Expos were the least valuable team at $113 million. The Expos, bought by the other 29 teams for $120 million before the 2002 season, lost $9.1 million last year, according to Forbes.

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The Tampa Bay Devil Rays signed pitcher John Rocker to a minor league contract. The former Atlanta, Cleveland and Texas reliever was assigned to triple-A Durham and will join the team’s extended spring training program Saturday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

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Pitcher Shane Reynolds signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves. Reynolds, 35, agreed to a one-year deal for $300,000 -- the major league minimum -- and a mutual option for $3 million, with a $100,000 buyout in 2004.