ARLINGTON, TX--Rumors of a blockbuster trade between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers surfaced yesterday when a completely unreliable source leaked the news to Tim Kurkjian of ESPN. The rumor has been spreading like wildfire ever since, and sportswriters across the nation are weighing in with their opinion of the potential deal.

“This is a huge, huge trade. Maybe one of the biggest in history,” said Peter Gammons. “Sending A-Rod to the Yankees is going to ensure another New York World Series, while the Rangers get to unload a gargantuan salary and still get a lot in return. This would be a great trade for both teams.”

The source of the rumor, a totally unreliable, non-credible, low ranking member of an unnamed MLB front office dropped the bomb to Kirkjian following Tuesday’s All-Star game. While some are skeptical about the deal, everyone agrees that it would be a blockbuster.

“I’m not sure about the authenticity of the source, but what a trade. A-Rod to New York would be a dream come true for the Yanks. I’m just surprised both teams are doing it, if indeed they are.”

The Rangers’ and Yankees’ front offices categorically denied any such deal and said they had never even discussed the possibility of the trade.

“These rumors are completely baseless,” said Brian Cashman, GM of the New York Yankees. “I don’t know who started this, but there’s not truth to it whatsoever. I swear on the life of my children that this trade is never, ever going to happen.”

Nevertheless, the trade has sparked the interest and imagination of baseball fans and writers across the country. Most have been completely undeterred by the vehement denials issued by the two teams.

“Yes, I know they denied it,” said Rick Telander of Sports Illustrated. “But the rumor is out there now and there’s nothing they can do about it. This 100 percent unreliable, bullshit artist of a source has turned the league on its ear. I guess we just have to wait to see what happens next”

According to representatives from both teams, they have bee bombarded with calls and faxes regarding the trade, and are at their wits end in trying to deal with the crush of media attention.

“How many times can I say its not happening?” asked Tom Hicks, owner of the Texas Rangers. “This source is totally unreliable. I keep telling people that, but they don’t care. I just hung up with Jason Starks of ESPN the Magazine 5 minutes ago. After telling him clearly and repeatedly that nothing is happening, he follows up by asking me if I could give him a definitive answer either way”

Says Starks:”They’re being pretty elusive and ambiguous about the whole thing. I have a hunch something is going to happen or they wouldn’t be so mysterious about it. Whoever this unreliable, non-credible anonymous source is, he sure gets some good information.”

Kurkjian says that the unreliable source is a someone he receives information from regularly, someone he refers to as “liar”, but insists he doesn’t know his identity.

“This guy is someone I've been working with for years. He’s given me some terrible information before, like the time he told me that Nomar Garciaparra killed someone in a drug deal gone bad, and that Joe Torre is a homosexual. Of course, anytime I hear a crazy rumor I immediately publish it on ESPN.com. This is no different. Its one of the craziest rumors I've ever heard but boy, it’s a humdinger.”

Time will tell if the deal will happen or not, but an anonymous source has told the Associated Press that the deal is almost done, and may be finalized within the next two or three days. The source also reported that Tom Hicks, owner of the Texas Rangers, was abducted by aliens last night and was anally probed before having a homing device planted in his head and being sent back to his home in Lubbock.