Well, it was fun while it lasted. Earlier on Friday morning, CBS Sports reported the Boston Red Sox were "definitely" going to trade corner infielder Kevin Youkilis to make room for Will Middlebrooks. But in an e-mail to WEEI.com, Red Sox GM Ben Cherington denied that report:

"That’s inaccurate," Cherington e-mailed WEEI.com Friday afternoon. "Some teams have checked in on him. We haven’t told any teams we plan to trade him. It’s our job to listen if teams have interest. He’s swinging the bat well since coming off the DL and [is] a big part of our team and lineup."

But as Craig Calcaterra points out, it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense for Cherington to come out and publicly proclaim the Youkilis auction was open. So the dream of a Red Sox-fueled rumor orgy is still alive! Never lose faith. The Red Sox don't have to trade Youkilis. They've said they aren't trading him. But we can still pretend they are.