FAQ: What to know about Phillies' offseason

This story was excerpted from Todd Zolecki’s Phillies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Before the Phillies officially begin the Hot Stove season, there are things you need to know.

Here are a few:

What are the key dates on the offseason calendar?

First day after the World Series (Thursday): Eligible players become free agents. That starts a five-day “quiet period” in which free agents may negotiate only with their own team. Teams can also begin to make trades with other clubs.

Fourth day after the World Series (Nov. 3): Last date to request waivers on Draft-excluded players until next spring.

Fifth day after the World Series (Nov. 4): The deadline for teams and players to make decisions on contract options, the deadline for clubs to reinstate all players on the 60-day injured list, and the deadline for clubs to tender qualifying offers. Free agents and teams are free to sign with any club beginning at 5 p.m. ET. Minor League players become free agents at 5 p.m. ET, if applicable.

Nov. 4-7: GM Meetings in San Antonio, Texas.

Nov. 19: The deadline for players to accept a qualifying offer is 4 p.m. ET. The deadline to add players to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft is 6 p.m. ET.

Nov. 22: Tender deadline. By 8 p.m. ET, teams must formally tender contracts to unsigned players for the following season, including their arbitration-eligible players. If a player is non-tendered, he becomes a free agent.

Dec. 9-11: Winter Meetings in Dallas, including the MLB Draft lottery on Dec. 10 and the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 11.

Dec. 15: End of the 2024 international signing period.

Jan. 10: Eligible players and their teams exchange arbitration figures.

Jan. 15: Start of the new international signing period.

Which Phillies players are free agents?

Carlos Estévez, Jeff Hoffman and Spencer Turnbull.

Will any of them receive qualifying offers?

Players that receive and accept qualifying offers will be signed to a one-year, $21.05 million contract in 2025.

Turnbull will not receive one. Estévez isn’t eligible because he didn’t spend the entire season with the Phillies. Hoffman is unlikely to get a QO, because that would commit too much money to one reliever if he accepted it, and the Phillies have multiple spots to fill in their bullpen.

If a player rejects a qualifying offer and signs with another team, their old teams receive Draft pick compensation.

Do any Phillies have team, player or mutual options?

No.

Which players are eligible for salary arbitration?

Kolby Allard, Alec Bohm, Austin Hays, Brandon Marsh, José Ruiz, Edmundo Sosa, Bryson Stott, Garrett Stubbs and Ranger Suárez.

Are any of them non-tender candidates?

Allard, Hays, Ruiz and Stubbs are possibilities.

Are any players on the 40-man roster out of options for next season?

Catcher Rafael Marchán is out of options, while Stubbs has one option remaining. It will shape how the Phillies view their catching plans this offseason, especially after manager Rob Thomson said they want to give J.T. Realmuto more rest in 2025.

Also out of options are Allard, Rodolfo Castro, Kody Clemens, Tyler Gilbert, Buddy Kennedy, Yunior Marte, Ruiz, Tyler Phillips, Cristopher Sánchez, Sosa and Cal Stevenson.

Which prospects might be placed on the 40-man roster to protect them from December’s Rule 5 Draft?

Pitchers Mick Abel (No. 6 prospect), Jean Cabrera (No. 13), Griff McGarry (No. 21), Christian McGowan (No. 22), Moisés Chace (No. 26), Eiberson Castellano and Tristan Garnett are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft.

The deadline to place any of them (or other Rule 5-eligible players) on the 40-man roster is 6 p.m. ET on Nov. 19.

What will the Phillies try to do this offseason?

If you heard or read president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski’s comments earlier this month, it seems clear that the Phillies are looking for upgrades in the outfield, the bullpen and the back of the rotation. But because the club is pushing against the third luxury-tax threshold, it might take creativity to get there.

That said, expect the Phillies to be connected to free-agent outfielder Juan Soto. Will they make a run at Soto? Sure, it would be negligent not to take a chance at one of the game’s greatest stars. But the Phillies will be considered long shots to land him, especially with the Yankees and the Mets in the mix.

Whom might they be willing to trade?

Dombrowski said the Phillies need to be “open-minded to exploring what’s out there for us,” and, “sometimes you trade good players for good players.” If Dombrowski is going to be open-minded, it means he might be willing to trade anybody -- from top prospects like Aidan Miller, Justin Crawford and Starlyn Caba to everyday players like Bohm, Marsh and others.