For those of you who think Major League Baseball is dying, think again.
The average MLB team is now worth $1.2 billion, an astonishing 48 percent increase from last year, according to the most recent valuations released by Forbes magazine on Wednesday.
"If Major League Baseball traded on a stock exchange it would be worth $36 billion," the story reads. "A record 15 MLB teams are now worth at least $1 billion, up from five in 2014."
The main reason behind the growth spurt is the national TV deal, which Forbes notes will deliver an average of $52 million per team per year through the 2021 season.
So which MLB team is the most valuable?
The New York Yankees. This is no surprise considering the Bronx Bombers have been atop of the list for each of the 18 years Forbes has published the MLB franchise values since 1998.
"The New York Yankees are worth the most, $3.2 billion, and are tied with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys as the most valuable U.S. sports teams (Spanish soccer team Real Madrid, worth $3.44 billion, is the most valuable in the world)."
The Yanks generated a record $508 million of revenue in 2014, cashing in on television rights payments, ticket and merchandise sales.
So how do the Yankees compare to Ohio's MLB teams, the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians?
The Reds are ranked the 20th most valuable MLB franchise, while the Indians rank 25th out of 30.
Forbes lists the Reds' value at $885 million, with a revenue of $227 million and operating income of $2.2 million.
The Indians' value is listed at $825 million, which is up 45 percent from Forbes' 2014 valuation. While the team has finished in the bottom third of attendance over the last three years, their revenue is listed at $207 million with an operating income of $8.9 million.
Check out the full list of Forbes' 2015 MLB team values.
