Texas Rangers sign Ian Desmond to play left field

The Texas Rangers officially signed free agent Ian Desmond to a one-year, $8 million contract on Monday and he will move to left field with slugger Josh Hamilton out with a knee injury.

A day after Desmond agreed to the deal, the former Washington Nationals shortstop passed his physical and took part in workouts at spring training in Surprise, Ariz.

Desmond, 30, decided to test free agency after the Nationals extended a $15.8 million qualifying offer to him.

The Rangers must surrender a first-round draft pick (19th overall) to Washington for signing Desmond since the Nationals extended a qualifying offer.

The Rangers have been concerned with their lineup as Hamilton is expected to miss at least the first month while recovering with inflammation in his left knee.

After playing nearly his entire seven-year career at shortstop, Desmond will play left field in Hamilton's absence.

Desmond said Monday he is ready to embrace the switch to the outfield.

"I respect every position and each challenge that it has," Desmond said Monday. "As far as swallowing my pride and moving to the outfield, that's not going to be a problem."

General manager Jon Daniels said the plan is for Desmond to play left field all season, even after Hamilton's return.

"It's a really natural fit for us as far as the kind of player we look for, elite athlete, tremendous makeup, and whoever you ask, it's universal, this guy's a big-time competitor, plays hard, runs hard, pushes other players," Daniels said. "It was something that presented itself late in the process that we couldn't pass up.

"This is a winning piece, a winning player, on a team that expects to win. To add that kind of piece here late in the process, it is a really great fit for us."

Desmond struggled last season, batting .233 with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs, and also made a National League-high 27 errors at shortstop. He has a .264 career average, with 110 homers and 432 RBIs in 927 games.

To make room for Desmond on the 40-man roster, the Rangers placed right-hander Tanner Scheppers on the 60-day disabled list, retroactive to Feb. 18, with torn articular cartilage in his left knee.

Scheppers had surgery on Feb. 24. He is expected to miss at least the first half of the season.