Ian Desmond agrees to deal with Rangers, will shift to outfield

(AP) With March right around the corner, the last remaining free agent who turned down a qualifying offer earlier this winter has finally found a home. According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, Ian Desmond has signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Texas Rangers, which is roughly half the money he left on the table when passing up the $15.8 qualifying deal.

If that’s not painful enough for Desmond, the career long shortstop will also be forced to change positions to fit into the Rangers lineup. With Elvis Andrus already locked in as the Rangers everyday shortstop and no other infield positions open, Desmond will head to the outfield. It had been reported Texas was pegging Desmond for left field if they signed him.

[2016 Yahoo Fantasy Baseball is open for business. Sign up now]

Now that they have signed Desmond, the Rangers will lose their first-round pick while Desmond’s former team, the Washington Nationals, pick up a compensation pick. That was likely the biggest factor preventing Desmond from finding a deal sooner, and one more to his liking.

The qualifting offer system is something that will no doubt be reviewed during the next CBA negotiations, but the players know the risk they are taking by turning it down. Especially a free agent in Desmond’s position, who was clearly a second tier free agent in a class with a loaded first tier.

Desmond also reportedly turned down a seven-year, $107 million extension with Washington in 2013. So he’s gambled on himself twice in the last three years, and for now anyway it has backfired.

Desmond, 30, is coming off a down year too, which didn’t help his cause. He hit .233/.290/.384 with 19 homers, 27 doubles and 62 RBIs last season. In the three seasons immediately before that, Desmond hit .275/.326/.462 while averaging 23 homers, 32 doubles and 81 RBIs. Those numbers earned him three straight Silver Slugger awards in a league that also featured Troy Tulowitzki.

Desmond had set the bar high. His success was also a major catalyst in the Nationals success during that time, and it’s no coincidence that their disappointment last season coincided with his. If Desmond can find that stroke again in Texas, he’ll definitely help a Rangers team that’s in need of some production. With Josh Hamilton out until at least May, Desmond will have a chance to show he can handle the job. By the time Hamilton returns, the Rangers are probably hoping he’ll have a tight grip on it.

[Elsewhere: Pirates threatened to cut Gerrit Cole’s salary to leverage deal]

It will be interesting to see how things play out. From the Rangers perspective though, it’s a pretty good deal. Giving up the draft pick isn’t ideal, of course, but they’re looking to contend right now. Adding a bat with Desmond’s upside at a relatively cheap price could prove to be the move that completes their puzzle.

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports: