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Baseball Salaries 2008: The most and least valuable players for the money

Teams - The best value teams and ballparks

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RankTeamTotal Payroll ($)Standing rankFan Cost Index ($)11-year Change (%)CBO Fan Value Index2
     
1Tampa Bay Rays43,820,5983136.910.002.30
2Los Angeles Angels119,216,3331140.423.803.70
3Milwaukee Brewers81,004,1676141.525.006.10
4Minnesota Twins62,182,76710165.714.8010.30
5Philadelphia Phillies98,269,8815199.561.9010.50
6Florida Marlins21,836,50014164.266.6011.50
7Chicago Cubs118,595,8332251.9514.9012.00
8Arizona Diamondbacks66,202,71316162.845.3013.10
9Texas Rangers68,239,55118148.044.3013.30
10Boston Red Sox133,440,0374320.716.8014.10
11Kansas City Royals58,245,50020151.1622.5014.40
12Chicago White Sox121,152,6679214.614.4014.60
13New York Mets138,293,3787251.1914.7015.10
14Houston Astros88,930,41511215.4310.1015.20
15New York Yankees209,081,5797275.1011.5015.90
16Colorado Rockies68,655,50021160.008.1016.10
17St. Louis Cardinals100,624,45012217.283.8016.40
18Cleveland Indians78,970,06717192.3822.7016.80
19Toronto Blue Jays98,641,95712230.4616.2016.90
20Pittsburgh Pirates49,365,28327146.324.7017.80
21Cincinnati Reds74,277,69521167.145.6017.80
22Oakland Athletics47,967,12619206.8011.5018.00
23Atlanta Braves102,424,01824157.194.3018.60
24Los Angeles Dodgers118,536,03815229.148.8018.80
25Baltimore Orioles67,196,24826165.403.5019.80
26San Francisco Giants76,904,50024183.74(0.70)20.00
27Detroit Tigers138,685,19721190.132.9020.00
28Washington Nationals54,961,00030195.5032.1023.90
29San Diego Padres73,677,61728201.725.3024.00
30Seattle Mariners117,993,98229191.162.8024.40


The Canadian Business Online Fan Value Index ranks the major league teams and ballparks by the overall league standing, average cost for a family of four to attend a game, and payroll. The best deal in baseball this season was enjoyed by fans of the Tampa Bay Rays — the cost to attend a game was cheapest in the majors, and thanks to a team that placed 3rd overall, they were most likely to enjoy watching their team win.

Source: 2008 Team Marketing Report
1 Index includes two (2) adult average price tickets, two (2) child average price tickets, two (2) small draft beers, four (4) small soft drinks, four (4) regular size hot dogs, parking for one (1) car, two (2) game programs and two (2) least expensive, adult-size adjustable caps. The MLB average is $191.92
2 Weighting: Standing (60%), Fan Cost Index (30%), Payroll (10%). The lower the score, the better the deal for fans.