The Braves have lacked an ace since Smoltzie’s shoulder gave out in 2008. No disrespect to Huddy, but he’s no Roy Halladay or Tim Lincecum (neither is JJ while health concerns threaten to keep Tommy H. from fulfilling his potential). San Fran, meanwhile, has a pair of aces, one of whom will be a free agent after this season. Here’s hoping FW make a run at Matt Cain in 2013.

The Braves will have plenty of money to spend after the season, with Lowe’s contract finally off the books and Chipper likely to retire. They also have an option on Huddy and are unlikely to re-sign Michael Bourn. They’d be wise to invest in Cain, who will be 28 this time next year. He’s pitched 200 innings or more in all but his rookie campaign, when he logged 190 IP. The Dothan, Ala. native, who’s never been on the DL, led the NL in quality start percentage in 2011 and was fifth the year before.

If you’re going to spend six years and $120 million on a free agent he better be a sure thing, and Cain qualifies. If that sounds like a lot of money remember it wasn’t long ago that FW gave $60 mil to a 36-year-old third starter. When you think of it that way spending $120 mil on Cain sounds like a bargain.

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