MLB News, Notes, and Links

• Sadly, Hall-of-Fame pitcher Bob Feller passed away earlier this week, after battling significant health problems over the last few years (including lukemia). He was 92 years old.
• The Yankees have quietly been stockpiling players, though nothing flashy enough to satisfy their fanbase or compete with the recent Red Sox & Phillies acquisitions. They re-signed Jeter, as everyone knows, and earlier this week also re-signed Mariano Rivera. They then went out and picked up a Dodger's non-tender, in catcher Russell Martin, and took a chance on former Cubs ace Mark Prior. They'll pick up another quality starter, before all is said and done this off-season.
• Padres closer Heath Bell is recovering at home from Typhoid Fever. I am not f'ing kidding. Typhoid Fever.
• The Red Sox got even richer today, signing RHP Bobby Jenks to a 2-year, $12 million deal, pending a physical. I'm not sure why, but this one bothers me more than the Crawford and Gonzalez deals...
• The Nationals have supposedly dealt Josh Willingham to the A's for "... two young players, one of whom has major league experience.", according to Buster Olney @ ESPN. The identify of those players has yet to be disclosed; rumor has it the Nats were looking for pitchers.
• The Twins agreed to terms with Japanese SS Tsuyoshi Nishioka, on a 3-year deal worth about $10 million. Nishioka is fast, won the Pacific League batting title last year, is a 5-time All Star, and has 3 gold gloves. A very nice pickup, which also made JJ Hardy expendable. If you're a Twins fan, you hope he's more like Ichiro and less like Kaz Matsui.
• Kerry Wood re-signed with the Cubs. They are absolute GLUTTONS for punishment. How is he only 33 years old?
• The ChiSox got smart, and re-signed free-agent Magglio Ordonez. The deal was for 1 year, $10 million. Ordonez turns 37 soon, and this will be his 15th year in the bigs; he's hit at least .300 in all but 3 of those. He hasn't hit lower than .292 since his rookie season in 1998.