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.

Cleveland clinched a wild-card berth in dramatic fashion as Johnathan Rodríguez punctuated the rally with a two-run homer, and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch kept the pressure on after Arias was intentionally walked to reach Kayfus. Cantillo delivered a bright spot on the mound, while Cade Smith cemented the closer role in a pivotal late-season push. The Guardians head to a division-deciding game with the Rangers, where Logan Allen faces Patrick Corbin in a must-win scenario.

The late-inning sequence underscored Cleveland's surprising turn-around this season: from rough stretches to cohesive depth up and down the lineup, bullpen strength, and clutch hitting fueling a playoff chase that keeps escalating as the schedule tightens. Fantasy managers should watch the bullpen and the top-of-the-order bats as Cleveland aims to extend its momentum into October.