The only Matt Cain for Ryan Howard rumors I saw were on John Sickels' website and it was just someone suggesting the trade, saying it would be good for both teams.

But, of course, the Giants fans didn't want to give up Cain and the Phillies fans didn't want to give up Howard and then it all denigrated into a discussion over whether a stud hitter was more valuable than a stud pitcher and it got very complicated and so on.

I don't know if I would trade Cain for Howard... I'm very high on Howard, but I'm not completely sold on him. I also feel like we just don't have the minor league pitching depth that we used to... then again, I don't want to see another situation where Cain busts and is traded at the nadir of his value, a la Jerome Williams or Jesse Foppert.

I just don't know. I doubt it if it's a "legit rumor" though.
Matt Cain!