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Report: SF Giants made the second-largest profit in MLB during 2022

The SF Giants made more money than nearly every other MLB team despite a disappointing season on the field in 2022, according to Forbes.

Marc Delucchi

Report: SF Giants made the second-largest profit in MLB during 2022
Report: SF Giants made the second-largest profit in MLB during 2022 /
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Despite a disappointing 2022 season on the field, the SF Giants made plenty of money last year, according to a report by Forbes. Per the business publication, the Giants made $74.9 million last season, the second-largest profit among MLB teams. Only the Mariners recorded a larger operating income ($85.8 million).

The Giants remained the fifth-most valuable franchise in the league with an estimated value of $3.7 billion. Only the Yankees ($7.1 billion), Dodgers ($4.8 billion), Red Sox ($4.5 billion), and Cubs ($4.1 billion) had larger estimated values.

In some ways, the fact that the Giants were such a successful business entity in 2022 in spite of mediocre on-field performance highlights a key reason some fans are concerned about the franchise's future. If ownership can make more than $50 million with middling payrolls and performance, what incentive will they have to compete?

It's worth noting that it's hard to imagine the Giants replicating their 2022 profits in 2023 without greater on-field success. While the Giants finished the year 81-81, they were coming off the 107-win 2021 season that had fan morale at one of its highest points since the franchise's last World Series victory. Those high expectations, and a relatively hot start to the season, likely drove excellent attendance figures well into the summer.

Furthermore, the Giants clearly wanted to improve last offseason, attempting to sign top free agents like Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa. Even though those attempts failed, the Giants still increased payroll by signing several players like Sean Manaea, Michael Conforto, and Mitch Haniger.

After the Giants failed to land one of the biggest names in free agency this offseason, fan morale is in a very different place heading into the season. Even if San Francisco gets off to a hot start, many fans will be hesitant to jump back on the bandwagon.

Nevertheless, Forbes' annual report on the financials of MLB teams is a good reminder that the business of baseball remains strong. Hopefully, the SF Giants' elite levels of profit translate to some elite on-field performances this season.

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Marc Delucchi
MARC DELUCCHI

Marc Delucchi (he/they/she) serves as the Managing Editor at Giants Baseball Insider, leading their SF Giants coverage. As a freelance journalist, he has previously covered the San Francisco Giants at Around the Foghorn and McCovey Chronicles. He also currently contributes to Niners Nation, Golden State of Mind, and Baseball Prospectus. He has previously been featured in several other publications, including SFGate, ProFootballRumors, Niners Wire, GrandStand Central, Call to the Pen, and Just Baseball. Over his journalistic career, Marc has conducted investigations into how one prep baseball player lost a college opportunity during the pandemic (Baseball Prospectus) and the rampant mistreatment of players at the University of Hawaii football program under former head coach Todd Graham (SFGate). He has also broken dozens of news stories around professional baseball, primarily around the SF Giants organization, including the draft signing of Kyle Harrison, injuries and promotions to top prospects like Heliot Ramos, and trade details in the Kris Bryant deal. Marc received a Bachelor's degree from Kenyon College with a major in economics and a minor in Spanish. During his time in college, he conducted a summer research project attempting to predict the future minor-league performance of NCAA hitters, worked as a data analyst for the school's Women's basketball team, and worked as a play-by-play announcer/color commentator for the basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. He also worked as an amateur baseball scout with the Collegiate Baseball Scouting Network (later renamed Evolution Metrix), scouting high school and college players for three draft cycles. For tips and inquiries, feel free to reach out to Marc directly on Twitter or via email (delucchimarc@gmail.com).

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