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The end of the World Series will kickstart the offseason, which means free agency in about to begin, trades will slowly emerge and rumors will start swirling. The Astros figure to be in the headlines, since they have one of the biggest free agents on the market in third baseman Alex Bregman, but that’s only part of their offseason focus.

Let’s answer some frequently asked questions about Houston’s offseason:

What are the key offseason dates?

Day after the World Series ends (Thursday): Eligible players become free agents. That starts a five-day “quiet period” in which free agents may negotiate only with their team. Also, the trade freeze is lifted and Major League players may be traded between clubs.

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

Nov. 19: The deadline for free agents to accept a qualifying offer is 3 p.m. CT.

Nov. 22: Tender deadline. Teams must offer a contract for 2025 to club-controlled players by 7 p.m. CT. If a player is non-tendered, he becomes a free agent.

Dec. 9-12: 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 players are free agents?

Bregman, right-handers Justin Verlander, Héctor Neris and Kendall Graveman, left-handers Yusei Kikuchi and Caleb Ferguson and outfielders Ben Gamel and Jason Heyward.

Are any of them likely to receive qualifying offers, and what is the deadline for that?

Bregman is a sure bet to receive a qualifying offer, which is a one-year offer calculated by averaging the 125 highest salaries in MLB. Players who accept are signed to a one-year deal for the next season at the designated value (set at $21.05 million for 2025). Those who don't accept remain free agents, and if a new team signs them, their old team receives Draft pick compensation.

Bregman is set to reach free agency for the first time after nine seasons with the Astros, during which he helped the team win seven American League West titles, three AL pennants and two World Series championships. Bregman, who will turn 31 early next season, got off to a slow start in 2024, but he still finished with 26 homers, a .768 OPS (118 OPS+) and 4.1 WAR (per Baseball-Reference) and was named a Gold Glove finalist.

The deadline for teams to extend a qualifying offer is 4 p.m. CT on Monday (the fifth day after the end of the World Series).

Which players have options, what’s the dollar figure and impact on payroll, and when does it need to be decided upon?

Right-hander Ryan Pressly’s option for next season vested when he reached 110 combined appearances in 2023-24, so he’s under contract for '25 at $14 million.

Who might be a non-tender candidate, and when does the club have to make that decision?

Outfielder Chas McCormick and right-handers José Urquidy and Penn Murfee.

The deadline to offer a contract to club-controlled players for 2025 is 6 p.m. CT on Nov. 22.

Who needs to be added to the 40-man roster this winter to avoid the Rule 5 Draft, and do they have a crunch for roster spots?

The deadline to protect players/prospects from the Rule 5 Draft is 5 p.m. CT on Nov. 19.

The Astros have six of their Top 30 prospects eligible for the Rule 5 Draft: right-handers Miguel Ullola (No. 7), Alimber Santa (No. 16) and Rhett Kouba (No. 24), left-hander Colton Gordon (No. 11) and outfielder Colin Barber (No. 30).

The Astros also have 10 players on the 60-day injured list who will need to be added to the 40-man roster now that the World Series has concluded. If you remove the eight players set to become free agents (two of which are on the 60-man IL), the Astros will have 42 players, which means they’ll have to trim two roster spots.

What kind of help do the Astros need and will they be active in free agency? Whom might they target?

That depends on what happens with Bregman. If the Astros sign him, they’ll continue to platoon at first base with Jon Singleton and Victor Caratini. Another name to watch is Zach Dezenzo (No. 5 prospect), who the club believes is close to being a key piece in the equation.

If Bregman signs elsewhere, Houston might make a run at a high-end free agent such as Christian Walker, or perhaps Carlos Santana on a shorter deal, and use a platoon at third base with Mauricio Dubón and a left-handed hitter who can fill that role for relatively cheaper. The Astros will also be on the lookout for some bullpen help to ease the load of Bryan Abreu, Pressly and Josh Hader.

Whom might they be willing to trade?

McCormick and fellow outfielder Jake Meyers have been asked about in trades quite a few times, and one of them could be moved as part of a deal to fulfill needs elsewhere.