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The Rays and Brewers both rely heavily on trades, which is a guide for the Washington Nationals

This World Series matchup is truly a treat for the baseball nerds out there. It may not get massive ratings, but the Brewers and Rays provide a guide on how to build a winning team without a big budget. These…

By Sam Sallick · Federal Baseball

Published: Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 4:20 PM

Key Things to Know

Sam Sallick argues the World Series matchup between the Rays and Brewers provides a roster-building model for Washington.
The Rays generated 31.2 of their 47.1 WAR this season from acquired trade pieces like Junior Caminero.
Milwaukee built postseason depth by trading impending free agents Josh Hader and Corbin Burnes for valuable young talent.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Writer Sam Sallick argues that the World Series matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers serves as an operational blueprint for the Washington Nationals. Sallick highlights that both small-budget clubs rely heavily on shrewd trades to construct competitive rosters, noting that 31.2 of Tampa Bay's 47.1 WAR this season originated from traded players.

The article outlines how Washington has recently adopted similar methods under Paul Toboni, including unpopular trade deadline deals and former moves by Mike Rizzo. Looking ahead, Sallick notes that the Nationals face key roster decisions regarding players like CJ Abrams while attempting to build sustainable, long-term success.

Read the full article on Federal Baseball

The Rays and Brewers both rely heavily on trades, which is a guide for the Washington Nationals

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