If the Yankees’ fill their center-field hole from within, it will be with Bubba Crosby – not with Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez shifting from the infield.

Monday, manager Joe Torre was quoted in a Reuters story as saying the Yankees were considering moving one of their All Star infielders to the outfield to be Bernie Williams’ replacement.

But yesterday the Yankees insisted something got lost in the translation.

“I complimented [GM Brian] Cashman on not making a deal just for the sake of making a deal,” Torre said through team spokesman Rick Cerrone. “I was asked about [Jeter or A-Rod moving to center] and I said, ‘They are good athletes and others have done it.’ We have not considered that.”

Cashman was blindsided by the story.

“I called Joe and he said, ‘I didn’t say that,’ ” Cashman said. “I believed him because it’s never been discussed. We have no interest in doing that. He was asked if they were capable and he said, ‘Yeah.’ He also said Mariano Rivera was our best center fielder, and we aren’t moving him. We are not moving Jeter or A-Rod. We have no interest in doing that.”

A-Rod refused comment on the speculation, and Jeter had nothing to say on the issue, which even by Yankee standards would have been bizarre.

So, with November folding into December, the Yankees still don’t have Williams’ replacement on board, unless it’s Crosby.

As long as Johnny Damon is looking for a seven-year deal, the Yankees aren’t interested. Damon can return to the Red Sox, but they aren’t likely to go seven years.

Milton Bradley (Dodgers) and Juan Pierre (Florida) are on the block, but the Yankees aren’t sold on either. Jason Michaels (Philadelphia) could be moved, with Aaron Rowand coming in the Jim Thome trade.

george.king@nypost.com