Jerry Dipoto should be watching this World Series very closely. With the Brewers and Rays meeting in the 2026 Fall Classic, we can already anticipate a convenient argument: See? You can win without spending like the Dodgers. That message goes for most of MLB.

The Mariners can take that lesson. The harder part is actually winning. Milwaukee and Tampa Bay earned the right to celebrate their efficiency. Seattle still has to earn the comparison. Sharing an appreciation for scouting, player development and affordable talent doesn’t entitle the Mariners to borrow somebody else’s pennant as proof that their own approach is working. The financial blueprints might look similar, but Seattle doesn’t get credit for the house those teams built.

For Dipoto, this matchup should sharpen the expectations surrounding his next roster.…