The Brewers and Rays have much in common. They led their leagues in victories during the regular season and are seeking their first World Series championship, a goal one of them will achieve by the end of next week.
They're both small-revenue teams who consistently punch above their financial weight class. Milwaukee has made eight postseason appearances in the past nine years, usually with a payroll less than half as expensive as the highest-salaried team. Tampa Bay has taken six playoff trips in the last eight seasons, often while spending less than one-third as much as the most extravagant club.
Both organizations are known for their shrewd eyes in finding talent and their skills in developing it. The Rays ranked second and the Brewers third in MLB Pipeline's midseason farm system evaluations and are regulars atop those ratings.
So they must have assembled their pennant-winning clubs in similar fashion, right? Not so fast.
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Milwaukee features one of the most homegrown teams in the postseason, trailing only Cleveland in terms of players (10) and production (31.4 Wins Above Replacement, Baseball Reference style). Tampa Bay, by contrast, has the lowest total of homegrown players (four) and the second-lowest production (8.9 WAR). They both relied heavily on trades and mostly forsook free agency.
Let's take a closer look at how the Brewers and Rays utilized different aspects of player acquisition:
Draft
Milwaukee has gotten more out of the Draft (seven players, 23.0 WAR) than any playoff team besides Cleveland. It has hit on first-round picks Brice Turang (2018) and Garrett Mitchell (2020), while Sal Frelick (2021) is a three-year starter enduring his worst season in the big leagues. The Brewers have mined junior colleges better than anyone to find Jacob Misiorowski (second round, 2022), Logan Henderson (fourth, 2021) and Aaron Ashby (fourth, 2017). Spending $1.35 million -- four times slot value -- to sign Cooper Pratt (sixth, 2023) also paid off.
Tampa Bay's three drafted players are tied for the second-fewest in the postseason, though Taylor Walls (third round, 2017) and Chandler Simpson (second, 2022) are key contributors. Ian Seymour (second, 2020), who got roughed up in the American League Championship Series, is the third.
International Amateurs
The Brewers top all playoff teams with 8.4 WAR from international amateurs, and it comes from three players. They found two of their four primary outfielders in Venezuela in successive years, signing Jackson Chourio for $1.8 million in 2021 and Luis Lara for $1.1 million in 2022. Abner Uribe was a relative bargain, turning pro for $85,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2018.
The Rays have just one international signee, though he's their second-most dangerous hitter: Jonathan Aranda, purchased from the Mexican League's Tijuana Toros for $130,000 in 2015.
Free Agents
While Tampa Bay features five free agents on its World Series roster, only Nick Martinez plays a significant role. He signed in February for a guaranteed $13 million on a one-year deal with a mutual option, then made the All-Star Game for the first time in his 16-year pro career.
Milwaukee's lone free agent is backup catcher Gary Sánchez, who signed for a guaranteed $1.75 million on a one-year contract with a mutual option in February. He has played in just one of eight postseason games this month.
Trades
Both League Championship Series MVPs broke into the Majors with their World Series opponent in 2018 before joining their current clubs via trade. Jake Bauers played in six different organizations before the Yankees sent him to Milwaukee for prospects Jace Avina and Brian Sanchez in November 2023, a move primarily designed to clear roster space for New York.
Freddy Peralta starred in eight seasons with the Brewers but becomes eligible for free agency following the World Series, so Milwaukee dealt him to the Mets along with Tobias Myers in exchange for Brandon Sproat and prospect Jett Williams (MIL No. 10) in January. Seven months later, New York shipped him to the Rays for prospects Émilien Pitre (NYM No. 10), Aidan Smith (NYM No. 15) and Gary Gill Hill (NYM No. 16).
No playoff team acquired more of players (16) or WAR (31.2) via trade than the Rays. They stole their best hitter (Junior Caminero) from Cleveland for Myers in November 2021 and got their best pitcher (Nick Martinez) from Milwaukee in the more equitable Willy Adames deal six months earlier. They also swapped for Liam Hicks, Bryan Baker, Victor Mesa Jr., Tandy Diaz, Tyler Wells, Richie Palacio and Jonny DeLuca, among others.
The Brewers rank right behind the Rays with 15 trade pickups and third in production (21.9 WAR) via that method of procurement. Besides Bauer, others of note include William Contreras (their lone position player All-Star), Joey Ortiz, D.L. Hall, David Hamilton, Trevor Megill, Chad Patrick and Robert Gasser.
Rule 5
One of just two Rule 5 Draft picks in the postseason, Kevin Kelly joined the Rays (via the Rockies) at the 2022 Winter Meetings. A mainstay in Tampa Bay's bullpen ever since, he led the big leagues with 33 holds this year.