The Padres are an organization on the rise.

At least in value, according to Forbes’ 21st rendition of Major League Baseball valuations.

The franchise is valued at $1.27 billion, up 13 percent from the previous season. Only the Athletics (16 percent), Indians (14 percent) and defending world champion Astros (14 percent) increased more in value over the last year than the Padres, who are ranked 17th overall and third in the pricey NL West nearly six years after the franchise was purchased for approximately $800 million.

The Dodgers ($3 billion) and Giants ($2.85 million) rank second and fourth in baseball, respectively. The Diamondbacks ($1.21 billion) rank 20th, followed by the Rockies ($1.1 billion) at 23rd.


Forbes’ revenue and operating income (earnings before taxes, interest, depreciation and amortization) numbers are not verified on the record by MLB or its clubs. The business publication says it speaks with sports bankers, team executives and industry analysts and reviews team documents and stadium leases to compile its numbers.

The $4-billion Yankees, the game’s most valuable franchise, and Dodgers led the majors in revenue in 2017 with $619 million and $522 million, respectively.

The Padres were tied for 18th in revenue ($266 million) and 15th in operating income ($26 million). Both are up from $259 million and $23 million, respectively, the previous season.

The Padres’ major league player expenses in 2017 were down from $143 million to $102 million as the organization spent upwards of $80 million — including overage taxes — on the 2016-2017 international free agent market.


Expect that number to rise next year as the Union-Tribune calculated this year’s opening day payroll at a little more than $101 million, the second-largest in franchise history behind the price tag for the 2015 team ($108 million). The Padres have since signed Wil Myers ($83 million) and Eric Hosmer ($144 million) to the richest contracts in franchise history as they target contention in the 2019-2020 window.


Padres Videos × On Now Padres pitcher Chris Paddack on start vs. Mariners and possibility of making rotation On Now Meet the Padres: Ian Kinsler 5:18 On Now Catching up with Padres OF Franmil Reyes 5:18 On Now Meet The Padres: Greg Garcia 5:11 On Now Catching up with Padres reliever Craig Stammen 5:33 On Now Meet the Padres: Logan Allen 6:23 On Now Meet The Padres: Manny Machado 9:08 On Now Meet The Padres: Chris Paddack 5:08 On Now Three things that stood out from Machado's first day with the Padres 1:53 On Now Padres manager Andy Green on Machado joining his roster

jeff.sanders@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutSanders