Texas Rangers head into winter with more questions than answers after back-to-back playoff misses. The offense regressed again, and the club plans to reshape the roster via free agency and trades, even as payroll is expected to dip below the $244 million tax threshold.

Nearly a third of the roster could hit free agency, with Joc Pederson and nine others in that bubble. Arbitration-eligible stars Adolis García, Jonah Heim, Jacob Webb, Josh Sborz, and Sam Haggerty loom, while core pieces DeGrom, Seager, Semien, Eovaldi, and Higashioka are locked long term. The pre arbitration group includes Jung, Burger and Leiter, shaping fantasy value for 2025.

Texas Rangers’ season hangs in the balance after a seven-game skid at a critical juncture, fueled by injuries to core stars and a bold rookie surge that briefly pushed them back into contention. Merrill Kelly, traded from Arizona to Texas, offers a veteran observer’s view as the clubhouse leaned on young players to spark a late push. With a playoff path narrowing, the front office and coaching staff must navigate an imploding run and navigate a roster reshuffle.

Langford’s early-september pop, Freeman’s clutch moments, and Helman’s gritty exposure highlight the rookies’ impact in a season defined by upheaval. FanGraphs’ zero-percent odds aren’t the end of the story—an improbable collapse by front-runners while Texas wins out could still deliver a dramatic finish, even as Seager, Semien, and Eovaldi battle injuries and timing.

Miami Marlins vs. Texas Rangers shapes a fantasy-friendly Day-Of game with Eury Perez toeing the mound against Merrill Kelly in a storyline that could influence late-season ownership. Perez’s dynamic stuff and aggressive strike-throwing lend upside for strikeouts and quick outs, while Kelly seeks a closing-strong home appearance that could limit the Marlins’ scoring window.

Key stacks center on Marlins’ Jakob Marsee, Joc Pederson, and Xavier Edwards who can manufacture runs, and on Rangers power from Josh Jung and Jonah Heim who anchor Texas’ attack. bullpen leverage and late-inning matches loom large for DFS, with a mix of depth pieces like Rowdy Tellez, Ezequiel Duran, and Michael Helman providing swing potential.

Week 26 brings a tight race to the finish, with 25 two-start arms on the slate. The top over-50% rostered pool features Giolito, Gil, Gausman, Williams, Flaherty, Ragans, Miller, Kelly, Sale, Peterson, Gore, Horton, Singer, Peralta, Pfaadt, Pivetta, and a few distance-runner options. Best streamer Justin Verlander (Giants) anchors the week with a forgiving pair of starts, while Ian Seymour offers a high floor for the Rays. Riskier bets include Shane Smith, Cristian Javier, Michael McGreevy, and Ryan Weathers.

Verlander leads a cakewalk schedule (STL and COL) that should yield wins and strikeouts, while Seymour gets two tough, but favorable, matchups that could pop if his control holds. The piece also casts a critical eye on upside plays like Gore and Horton, who carry longer-term keeper value beyond Week 26. The waiver wire remains active as coaches chase innings, strikeouts, and qualitative matchups for fantasy playoffs.

Texas' playoff push stalled in Houston as Jacob deGrom labored through a 35-pitch, bases-loaded first inning that opened the door for a 5-2 loss and the Rangers' worst series of the season. The rotation, the backbone of their chase, was tagged for 14 earned runs across the three games. Seattle sits 4.5 games back with nine to play.

Houston seized momentum with timely hitting from Yainer Diaz, Jose Altuve and Jeremy Peña, while Texas failed to spark after the first inning. The sweep underscored volatility in a rotation that must rebound quickly if Texas is to keep its wild-card hopes alive.