"Some small-market teams take being competitive very seriously. The Brewers, Rays, and Guardians..."
*BZZZZT* Wrong!
The Rays are not a small market team. It isn't 1998 anymore. Tampa-St. Petersburg is the 11th largest media market at 2.2 million households. Orlando, which would be less likely to send fans to games but is right nearby for TV revenue is 1.9 million households and the 15th largest market. Together that is bigger than Chicago that has two teams. The Rays are one of the problems in baseball because they don't fully utilize their market. They should be a net contributor to MLB not a taker.