Is Matt Cain really available?

If he is, you gotta wonder if he would be worth parting with some top 10 prospects for his services. Per Adam McCalvy at Trade Talk:

Sabathia is not the only target reportedly on Milwaukee's radar. Veteran San Diego right-handers Greg Maddux or Randy Wolf -- whose bags were in an outer room of the visitor's clubhouse at Chase Field on Thursday, waiting for a weekend series between the D-backs and Padres -- also could make sense as short-term rentals for Milwaukee. San Francisco's Matt Cain and Kansas City's Zach Greinke have been mentioned in published reports, but Melvin said those pitchers were more likely candidates to be dealt in the offseason.

Cain is due only $2.65 million in 2009, $4.25 million in '10, and a $6.25 million club option in '11, so any package for Cain is going to take top talent. Matt has a 4.13 ERA, 3.77 FIP, and 8.5 K/9 this season as a 23-year-old.


Greinke actually might be the better option of the two, as he'll be arbitration eligible next season and might be expensive for the Royals to hold on to in the coming years. Zack is doing just as well as Matt, posting a 3.65 ERA, 4.17 FIP, and 7.22 K/9 and will be 25 in October. Maybe we could pull off a Mark Grudzielanek/Zack Greinke/Ron Mahay for Bryan Anderson/Jaime Garcia/Adam Kennedy/Chris Duncan trade. I hate parting with Jaime and Bryan, but Zack could be an ace pitcher in the National League. Would you do it? I'm not sure if I would.