Like a 2,000-piece puzzle, the Phillies’ offseason will be a tedious, extensive exercise that slowly will form a picture of the 2027 season.

That is ... if there is one with an anticipated tense and laborious showdown with the players and the owners.

The aftermath of the Phillies’ elimination has been temporarily overshadowed by the Eagles’ offensive woes, but they will soon resurface brightly.

In all likelihood, there will be one in some form, and the Phillies should have some new faces.

So, where do we start, and who will go? There’s a lot of pieces to unpack and lay on the table. Probably more to cover in this column, but here are a few.

I Just Want To Be Free ... The latest piece to try to fit will be the apparent replacement for free agent Luis Arraez. In a recent X post, Arraez thanked the fans for their support. However, it sounded more like a farewell letter than an anticipatory one for the 2027 season. Arraez is seeking a large, long-term deal, and the Phils are already saddled with plenty of them.

Speaking of free agents, the Phils also have the quandary of Alec Bohm, whose second-half heroics helped the team to the postseason.

Early indications have the Phillies letting Bohm walk, and he’ll get big money from a team, likely like the Angels. Or Bohm would fit in nicely with the Mets, Padres or Brewers.

Besides Arraez and Bohm, the Phillies have eight other free agents, most notably Tim Mayza, Jose Alvarado and Edmund Sosa. They could let Mayza walk, but the Phillies like Sosa’s versatility. Alvarado is a good bet not to be back.

Angling For Alex ... Another piece likely to replace will be the “graceful” dismissal of skipper Don Mattingly, as described by several media outlets. Those rumors began a few hours after the Phils were eliminated, and his dismissal could occur as early as this week or when Dave Dombrowski decides to address the media.

But this shouldn’t be pinned on Mattingly. He did make his share of questionable pitching changes, but did his best to juggle the lineups and play with the hand he was dealt. He was 80-57 overall. Players have publicly supported him.

It is not known whether the decision to not hit Arraez leadoff came from Mattingly and his staff, or was it dictated from the analytics staff.

Yet, Alex Cora will likely be here, and Dombrowski expects he will make a difference. Reportedly, Mattingly will be offered a position in the front office, but the ex-Yankee showed that he wasn’t too concerned with working next year. (He will be paid in 2027).

There is a perception that Dombrowski and Cora worked together in Boston for a long time, but the duo worked in unison for just under two years. They did collaborate to win a World Series in 2018, and Dombrowski was fired in early September 2019.

His firing presumably was linked to the team for participating in electronic sign stealing against the Yankees in 2017, and improper use of video replay to decode signs during the 2018 season. Yet, following an investigation, Dombrowski was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Cora spent eight years in Boston and compiled an overall 620-541 mark. He had a 10-17 slate when he was dismissed on April 25. Like Mattingly did with the Phillies, interim manager Chad Tracy re-ignited the team and had them on a 15-game winning streak in July that led them to a Wild Card berth.

Cora’s gruff approach would assuredly be a major contrast to Mattingly’s. There was popular belief in Boston that Cora was in a power struggle with GM Craig Breslow, and the players backed Cora. In turn, Breslow bounced Cora.

Personally, I would have kept Mattingly for at least another season, but it was quite apparent that he wasn’t at the top of Dombrowski’s list.

What can be really overlooked in Mattingly’s dismissal will be the loss of pitching coach Caleb Cotham, who has worked wonders with the staff.

Bad Crops? ... Then there’s the question of where top prospect Aidan Miller will fit. Miller seems destined to be in the Phils’ lineup next season, as he will play in the Arizona Fall League.

The bigger question in the fall is whether Miller will play short or third. If the Phillies make a rapid decision on Bohm, Miller’s status will be clarified. However, don’t expect the Phillies to act quickly.

Besides Miller, there is little help in the farm system, which has been ranked 29th. Are there any pieces that fit in the minors other than Miller? Remember the Gage Wood craze?

Well, the right-hander went 1-3 with a 4.72 ERA in 17 starts, but did have 99 strikeouts in 68.1 innings. Aside from Wood, ex-Angel castoff Andy Seminaris went 11-9 with a 4.03 ERA, and had 162 strikeouts in 138.1 innings.

Besides Miller, there was little at Lehigh Valley besides some journeyman pitches and players. Do Otto Kemp, Gabriel Rincones Jr., Felix Reyes or Alan Rangel excite you?

This year’s farm system graduates — Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford — didn’t initially impress, and their troubles were well documented.

Painter, the rookie right-hander, has apparently gotten over the hump with his second-half and playoff showings, and took a major step toward reaching the potential the franchise has anticipated.

But the left-handed swinging Crawford had a pedestrian season. In his defense, Crawford should have been used more against left-handers despite his low numbers. The Phillies should have let him play through his struggles.

Starting Strong, Finishing Weak ... Painter will be part of a formidable starting staff that will be the team’s strength next season. Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo and Aaron Nola round out one of the game’s — if not the best — staff in the majors.

Jhoan Duran remains one of the elite closers, and rookie Alex McFarlane should have impressed enough to get a seventh- or eighth-inning role next year.

What’s left? Dombrowski will have to sort out the rest of the spots, mainly finding a quality lefty where Alvarado and Brooks Raley failed, and Mayza and Tanner Banks are debatable.

Brad Keller will get another shot after a mediocre showing before he went down, and Jonathan Bowlan’s status is unknown. Orion Kerkering is a question mark, and Caleb Kilian — acquired with Arraez — will get another chance.

Boston late-inning reliever Garrett Whitlock, who had a stellar season with a 7-2, 1.72 line, will be a free agent. Keep an eye on whether Dombrowski and Cora pursue him.

The Elephant In the Room ... Well, I would have been remiss if I didn’t mention the state of Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner, whose contracts — mainly Harper and Turner — will be hard to move.

If Bohm stays and Miller makes the team, the Phils will have to talk Turner into moving to the outfield. Unless they can talk the Dodgers into taking him back. If Bohm goes, Turner will remain the liability at short, and Miller goes to third.

Those pieces will determine where Harper plays next season. Don’t count out Harper being shipped to the Yankees, depending how the Yankees finish this season.

More to come here, stay tuned. The 2027 season puzzle will take some time to complete.

Time For A New Engine ... In a recent Times News Sports Facebook poll, the question was posed on whether it is time for a major Phillies overhaul?

It’s time for a new look, as 95 percent of the pollers called for an overhaul, and five percent didn’t feel one was needed.

Scrapbook ... In each column, I will review the career of a former standout from the area.

Mike and Jon Venarchick were outstanding players for Lehighton’s baseball team, both gaining several Mountain Valley Conference (MVC) honors in the early 2000s.

Both went on to play at Kings’ College as utilitymen and excelled in their final seasons. Mike hit .402 his junior year with 37 RBIs, and Jon was at .312 with 19 RBIs.

In their senior year, Mike hit .397 with 25 RBIs, while Jon hit .380 with 32 RBIs.

Final thoughts ... Are the Yankees in trouble? Can the White Sox advance to the World Series?

Your thoughts are always welcomed and will be published; email them otnsports@tnonline.com