This must be how (really) bad rumors get started:

New York Newsday Columnist, Jon Heman, suggests that the Red Sox trade Manny to the Yankees straight-up for Gary Sheffield:

"Perhaps there's one crazy way that baseball's bitterest rivals can help themselves, and if they absolutely have to, help each other. Here's my fanciful idea: Trade one mixed-up malcontent straight-up for the other."

"To this point, there's no evidence this is something that's been discussed, thought of or perhaps even imagined in the wildest dreams of the two teams. The first problem, among many, is this: Who makes that first painful phone call?"