MLB’s other low-payroll teams are on notice. The Rays and Brewers didn’t spend big to get here

The Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers have demonstrated that low-payroll teams can remain competitive in Major League Baseball without committing to large free-agent contracts. Their success serves as a warning to other budget-conscious franchises that smart roster construction and player development can be just as effective as big spending. Both teams stand as models for how small-market clubs can contend in an era dominated by high-spending organizations.