It's a bombshell for baseball fans as rumors swirl around the possibility that the New York Yankees are going up for sale.

According to the New York Daily News, Hall of Fame sportswriter Bill Madden is reporting that the Steinbrenner family is exploring offers for the team in the wake of a $2 billion deal for the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this year.

However, Yankees ownership says the rumors are completely false. In a statement, Hal Steinbrenner said in part, "It is pure fiction. The Yankees are not for sale. I expect that the Yankees will be in my family for many years to come."

George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees back in 1973 for $8.8 million and the family has owned the team ever since. Forbes recently estimated that the franchise is now worth almost $2 billion.