SAN ANTONIO – As Dave Dombrowski and his lieutenants met with other clubs and player agents this week at general manager meetings, they kept repeating a mantra he used to define it. Phillies off season.

“I think,” Dombrowski said Wednesday, “we’re (more) open-minded than we’ve been in other years.”

What does it mean to be open-minded? Dombrowski resisted revealing many details; The Phillies have signaled that they plan to acquire an outfielder (probably a lefty) and at least one right-hander. They have money to spend. They are sure to eclipse the third luxury tax threshold of $281 million. The question is whether it falls into the fourth tier, which triggers penalties of even more than $301 million.

An “open-minded” offseason involves something more complex than spending money on a few free agents.

This week, Dombrowski said he’s gotten more calls than usual about players on the Phillies’ roster. This does not surprise him. He conveyed his desire to be creative in how he will improve the team. Some players, usually those with longer-term deals with bigger money, are less mobile than others. Dombrowski, the club’s president of baseball operations, said sometimes you have to trade good players to get good players. It’s not atypical for a team to float names at the start of an offseason to see what interest they draw.

That’s what makes players like it Alec Bohm, Ranger Suarez and Brandon Marsh targets. The Phillies value all three players. He would have to fill in if he was dealing with one of them. But maybe being “open-minded” involves the Phillies trading an emerging hitter for a reliever, then using free agency to get a bat. Or vice versa.

The calculation for 2025 must include 2026 and beyond. Suárez, who will be a free agent after the 2025 season, is not guaranteed to factor into the long-term plan. Andrei Painter should join the rotation sometime in 2025then consider a bigger role in 2026. Bohm is a free agent after 2026; Phillies I think Aidan Miller20 years old, is a future force on the left side of the infield. In Marsh’s case, the Phillies might not want to block Justin Crawfordpath to center field in 2026.

If the Phillies find a way to trade one of their three major leaguers for a better fit now and later, that would constitute being “open-minded.” They could also use Miller or Crawford in a prospect package to acquire a bigger piece.

“We have a good list of priorities,” Dombrowski said. “We know who interests us with other clubs. We’re really in a good place going forward. Now, what you never know is how aggressive other clubs want to be. … That’s why a lot of the more important things happen around the Winter Meetings because you’re still gathering so much information.”

Alec Bohm hit .280/.332/.448 last season. (Brett Davis / Image Images)

The Soto situation

Phillies officials were careful not to tip their hand about the top prize — Juan Soto — but downplayed the idea. Maybe it’s a tactical decision. The Phillies know he would be a stalking horse for both new york teams, just as they were last winter when Los Angeles Dodgers were heavy favorites to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They were happy bid for Yamamoto.

Would he go big hunting again this winter?

“Our property allows us to do a lot of things,” Dombrowski said. “But sometimes that’s not what you want. We have a lot of good star players in our team. So read this as you would.”

The Phillies know that Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, would like them involved in the tender. Maybe the Phillies don’t mind putting some pressure on Mets or Yankees. It may never reach that stage.

They will monitor the Soto market. But they may be forced to pursue other solutions before Soto signs.

Reconstruction of the taurine

The Phillies haven’t closed the door on a reunion with either Jeff Hoffman or Carlos Estévez, though both relievers could find better deals elsewhere. A major league source confirmed an ESPN.com report that several clubs have considered pursuing Hoffman as a starter. While he’s thrived in a bullpen role — and might prefer that — keeping the door open to a potential switch back to a rotation could help Hoffman earn more money this winter.

Hoffman has the same agency as Reynaldo Lopezwho signed last season with The Atlanta Braves to be a rookie again after years of relief.

The Phillies return a bullpen core that includes Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm and Jose Alvarado. They expect Tanner Banks to be a reliable lefty in the middle innings. They will submit a contract to Jose Ruizwho is eligible for salary arbitration and should make nearly $2 million.

Do they need two new relievers this winter to have five reliable high-leverage weapons?

“One more for sure,” Dombrowski said. “I don’t think we should have five. We like banks. We think he can step up and pitch some more innings for us. And sometimes these answers also come from within. We have some arms we like.”

Tracking painter

Painter has thrown three more scoreless innings in the Arizona Fall League this week. He logged 13 innings there and could have two more starts before the showcase league ends. Rival evaluators who have seen Painter live have been impressed with his fastball command so soon after returning to game action.

The Phillies consider the 21-year-old prospect healthy — and so does Boras, who is Painter’s agent.

“Andrew threw in the 90s,” Boras said. “He looked great. His rehabilitation, I believe, is complete. We’re pretty excited about the ’25 season.”

So are the Phillies. They have yet to determine how they will manage their innings in 2025.

This and this

• All three pitchers were added by the Phillies to the 40-man roster this week (Devin Sweet, John McMillon and Alan Rangel) have minor league options. McMillon suffered an elbow injury near the end of the 2024 season with Miami Marlins; The Phillies reviewed his medicals before filing a waiver claim.

“We took a bet in that we like his ability,” Dombrowski said, “but I can’t tell you that for sure (if he’ll be healthy).”

Rangel is the depth of rotation. Sweet and McMillon are relievers.

• The Phillies retained a minor league option at the outfielder Horse Stevenson and righty Tyler Gilbert, both remaining on the 40-man roster. Gilbert could come to spring training as the starter. Fringe 40-man players without 2025 options include right-hander Tyler Phillips, catcher Rafael Marchánand field players Kody Clemens and Buddy Kennedy.

• Top prospect Wen-Hui Pan will undergo Tommy John surgery this month. Pan, 22, was slated to pitch in the Arizona Fall League but never got there. The righty complained of elbow soreness near the end of his minor league season. He will miss all of 2025.

(Top photo of Ranger Suárez: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)