Andrus, 20, will be the Rangers' starting shortstop in 2009, with Michael Young, the Gold Glove winner at the position last season, moving to third base.

Vizquel, 41, would serve in a utility role. Andrus, who has yet to play above Double-A, would get the vast majority of playing time as long as he proved capable of holding the job, sources say.

Part of the Rangers' thinking is that Vizquel could serve as a mentor to Andrus, who idolized the 11-time Gold Glove winner growing up in Venezuela.

Vizquel also could play a greater role if Andrus stumbled, enabling the Rangers to keep Young at third rather than move him back and forth between positions.

Young balked at moving to third and requested a trade in December when the Rangers informed him of their plan to play Andrus at short. But on Thursday, Young agreed to the switch and dropped his trade request.

The Padres, intent on signing one middle infielder, bypassed Vizquel for David Eckstein, whom they signed Thursday to play second base.

Vizquel appeared in only 92 games with the Giants last season, missing the first six weeks after undergoing surgery on his left knee, then losing playing time to Emmanuel Burris.

He had a .222 batting average, .283 on-base percentage and .267 slugging percentage, well below his career averages .273, .338 and .355.

San Francisco Giants News News » Sources: Rangers interested in Vizquel as backup
Sources: Rangers interested in Vizquel as backup
Free-agent shortstop Omar Vizquel, snubbed by the Padres, suddenly is looking at another option. The Rangers are talking to Vizquel about becoming the backup to fellow Venezuelan Elvis Andrus, according to major-league sources. MLB Hot Stove