Young wants Rangers to trade him

ARLINGTON, Texas, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- All-star Michael Young, irked that he's been asked to move from shortstop to third, wants out of the Texas Rangers organization, the team said on its Web site.

Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels and Manager Ron Washington asked Young in December to make the shift to make room fro minor league shortstop Elvis Andrus. Andrus was acquired from the Atlanta Braves in Mark Teixeira trade in 2007.

The Rangers said on their Web site Young, who has spent his entire big league career in Texas, wants to be traded because Daniels and Washington told him he would be playing third base this coming season without giving him a choice. No deal appears in the works, however.

Young, 32, signed a contract extension in 2007 that keeps him with the team through 2013.

He began his career as a second baseman, but moved to short prior to the 2004 season when Texas traded Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees.

He has played in five straight All-Star Games and won his first Gold Glove award in 2008. Young hit .284 with 12 homers, 82 runs batted in and 102 runs scored last season after batting over .300 in each of his previous five seasons.