Opportunity is knocking for the Phillies.

Giancarlo Stanton--a slugger the team was connected to in rumors prior to the July 31 trade deadline--has cleared revocable waivers. As baseball's most feared power hitter rumbles toward historic home run levels, four teams have shown interest in doing a deal with the Miami Marlins.

Here's why the Phillies--if they aren't already--should put themselves ahead of the pack and make Miami a suitable offer for the 27-year-old star.

-Now or never: As Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan pointed out, the Marlins would be wise to sell high and reboot the franchise with a Stanton trade. While something could linger until the offseason or when new Derek Jeter-led ownership is in power, it doesn't make sense for the Phillies to wait it out.

Between now and January, a team like the Cardinals or Giants could swoop in and steal a player that would be perfect for Philadelphia.

-Special power: There's power and then there's Stanton power. We're talking about a hitter on an incredible hot streak and in the midst of a year that could land him among the best of all time. Entering play on August 15, Stanton has 43 home runs. That puts him on pace for 60--a number surpassed by only one non-PED player ever: Roger Maris.

Giancarlo Stanton AGAIN🔥🔥🔥🔥his 21st home run in his last 33 games & now has the #Marlins single season record 43



pic.twitter.com/ypeLu0HxNf — Around The Bases POD (@AroundBasesPOD) August 15, 2017

While Stanton is clearly in the midst of a career year, let's not pretend his power came out of nowhere. Stanton has now reached 250 home runs faster than all but nine players ever. He's still in his prime. If he's freed from a pitcher's' park and placed in a hitters paradise like, say, Citizens Bank Park, 50 home runs per year could be the norm.

-Finances make sense: The Phillies only have $5.8M on the books for 2018. For a team that routinely held payrolls over $150M over the last decade, it's an eye-opening figure to consider now. Stanton's contract (owed $295M over the next 10 years) is prohibitive, but the Phillies can flex their financial muscles to take on the entire bill.

If other suitors want Miami to pay some of the deal, Philadelphia can use its payroll flexibility to change the equation and possibly give up less of a prospect cost in the process. In a year or two, the Phillies won't have this kind of payroll flexibility.

-Mark McGwire 2.0 (minus the steroid controversy): Remember when the Cardinals landed McGwire from the Athletics in the mid-90s? St. Louis went back on the map and became must-watch television as they built an offense around the best slugger in the sport.

Something similar can happen in Philadelphia.

The Phillies rebuild is progressing better than the 2017 standings would lead you to believe. Adding Stanton to a young nucleus of Odubel Herrera, Rhys Hoskins, Aaron Nola and prospects like J.P. Crawford and Scott Kingery could transform a losing team back into a winner fast.

Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.