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Rays Roundtable: What's Next for Tampa Bay After World Series Loss to Brewers?
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- Rays Roundtable: What's Next for Tampa Bay After World Series Loss to Brewers?
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Tampa Bay Rays couldn't get it done as they fell to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 5 of the World Series, handing them their first-ever title in franchise history.
The team will now look to improve their roster to hopefully make their way back to the Fall Classic in 2027, but until then, a long offseason awaits. On this week's Rays Roundtable, the staff discussed the World Series and what's next for the ball club.
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Did the Tampa Bay Rays lose the World Series, or were the Milwaukee Brewers simply the better team?
Michael Brauner: The Brewers were simply the better team. There's no shame in it, it just wasn't close between Milwaukee and the rest of baseball this year. They certainly deserved it.
Christian Rauh: Tampa Bay worked really hard and silenced a ton of doubters to make their way to the World Series, but at the end of the day, Milwaukee was truly the better team out there.
What player were you impressed with the most on Tampa Bay during the World Series?
Michael Brauner: It's tough not to say Chandler Simpson. He stepped up at the plate and did his job with eight hits in two games, and for a guy who has been so doubted, that had to feel good on the biggest stage in the sport.
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Christian Rauh: Definitely Simpson. He stepped up when the rest of the lineup wasn't doing it. Players like Yandy Diaz had themselves a World Series slump, although his postseason was great, but players like Chandler Simpson were great throughout the entire Fall Classic.
How should we remember the Tampa Bay Rays' 2026 season: a historic success or another missed opportunity?
Michael Brauner: Maybe I'm an optimist, but I lean more towards the former. This was a fantastic year, and eliminating the Yankees in the playoffs as well as winning the division should be something Tampa Bay feels great about. It's unfortunate they couldn't finish it off, but they ran into a buzzsaw.
Christian Rauh: Historic success for sure. Only one team can win the World Series, but that doesn't mean only one team had a good year. Tampa Bay was doubted from the beginning of the season all the way until the playoffs began. Many believed they would finish at the bottom of the AL East and instead found themselves as the final team in the Junior Circuit standing. There's a lot to still improve from this squad, but overall, they had a great trade deadline, and they found they can be competitive, even with the payroll the team has given the roster. Historic success for sure.
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What is the single biggest move the Tampa Bay Rays need to make this offseason to return to the World Series in 2027?
Michael Brauner: Improve the outfield bats. They need more consistency and power out there.
Christian Rauh: I'd like to see some improvement in the middle infield. You need to have more offensive production rather than a defensive specialist.
