Ian Desmond is ready to embrace the switch from shortstop to outfield and thanked the Texas Rangers for thinking outside the box when they signed him.

Desmond signed a one-year, $8 million deal with Texas and arrived for workouts on Monday.

The Rangers must surrender a first-round draft pick to the Washington Nationals, who extended Desmond a qualifying offer.

Desmond lauded the Rangers for being "creative" and "trusting enough to believe in me to be able to change positions."