Today's links were assembled with numb fingers, thanks to a furnace on the fritz ...

* About the Rangers trading Kevin Millwood and signing Rich Harden, David Pinto writes, "It looks like the Rangers are trading a sure 200 innings for a potentially great 200 innings." I know David knows this, but in seven years Harden has never come close to throwing 200 innings (great or otherwise). He hasn't pitched even 150 innings in a season since he was 22. (He's 28 now.)

* Can the Rays really afford to spend $7-8 million on a relief pitcher? I sort of doubt it. But at least they won't have to give up a first-round draft pick, too.

* Have you heard about American Needle Inc. v. NFL? You will, particularly when the Supreme Court hears the case next month. As Lester Munson wrote last month, it might lead to sweeping changes not just in the NFL, but in professional sports generally (and if you think baseball's not paying close attention, read this).

* Sheesh. You'd think winning 95 games -- and going to the playoffs six times in seven years -- would result in the front office getting the benefit of the doubt. Nope. Not in Boston. Not in Dan Shaughnessy's mind, anyhow.

* Dave Cameron, who does so much great work in so many places, does his part to address the big issues facing the third-best team in the best division.

* Through the back door, here's an interesting bit about college statistics, via Bill James.

* Wezen-Ball does the sort of thing that he does so well, and so often.

* Supposedly the White Sox and Royals are interested in Brett Gardner. I used to be interested in him, too. But his .325 career on-base percentage is not particularly interesting, particularly when one notices that he's often been platooned. One thing you can say about Gardner, though: he's better than Brian Anderson and DeWayne Wise and Jerry Owens.

* From LoHud's Chad Jennings, everyhing you always wanted to know about Jamie Hoffman, who the Yankees just had to have.