Two of MLB’s smallest spenders will meet in the World Series for first time since 1991

Two of Major League Baseball's lowest-payroll franchises have advanced to the World Series, marking the first such matchup between small-market spenders since 1991. The meeting highlights how both clubs have built competitive rosters through player development and shrewd roster management rather than big free-agent spending. Their presence in the Fall Classic is being celebrated as a triumph of organizational strategy over financial firepower.