By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
ORLANDO, Fla. — Major League Baseball's general managers' meetings are less than two days away, with the hot stove set to ignite Nov. 13-16 in the Sunshine State, Orlando, Florida.
The Philadelphia Phillies will surely be among teams looking to improve at and beyond the annual event, under newly-hired manager Gabe Kapler. While the club will aim to sure-up its pitching staff and perhaps discuss trades surrounding one of their utility infielders, Maikel Franco, Freddy Galvis and/or Cesar Hernandez, improving the offense will also always be up for consideration.
One way to do the latter would be to acquire four-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Giancarlo Stanton.
According to a Friday evening tweet by MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Phillies are among four clubs thus far involved in "preliminary communication" to acquire Stanton from the Miami Marlins, and that talks are expected to "intensify" at next week's meetings. Joining the Phillies in being linked to Stanton are the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants.
Why does Giancarlo Stanton fit the #Phillies? They have $6.35 million committed to players for 2018, per Spotrac. Plenty of capacity for growth in a payroll that routinely surpassed $160M earlier this decade. @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 11, 2017
The Cardinals appear to be the early favorite to acquire Stanton, however. According to a Nov. 9 report by FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman, the Cardinals are "believed to be the team the Marlins would most like to make a deal" for Stanton, citing the organization's top pitching prospects in Alex Reyes, Sandy Alcantara and Jack Flaherty. Last Saturday, Peter Gammons reported the Cardinals offered "one of their best young pitchers" in a prospective deal for the corner outfielder.
Heyman also cited the Phillies may be a "tough sell" to get Stanton to waive his full no-trade clause to join them, given they are likely in for "at least another year of rebuilding."
Stanton is owed $285 million over the next 10 seasons, however he can opt-out after the 2020 season. Stanton could either earn $25 million more in 2028, when he will be 38 years of age, or be bought-out via a $10 million club option. Contract bonuses include $50,000 for Gold Glove, Silver Slugger or All-Star nominations, $100,000 for Most Valuable Player, $250,000 for League Championship Series Most Valuable Player and $500,000 for World Series Most Valuable Player.
In eight seasons with the Marlins, Stanton, 28, has produced 960 hits in 986 games, with 202 doubles, 267 home runs, 672 RBIs and a .268/.360/.554 slash. The Panorama City, California native has 20 extra-base hits spanning 52 games and 227 plate appearances all-time at Citizens Bank Park.
