Nov 3, 2000 6:34 p.m. ET

Associated Press

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Alex Rodriguez wants to beat the New York Yankees, not play for them.  The All-Star shortstop is weighing his options as a free agent, but the Yankees aren't one of his choices.

"I would like to sign with another team and help dethrone the Yankees — they've won too much already," Rodriguez said Friday.

The Yankees have been rumored to be interested in signing Rodriguez and moving him to third base because they already have his buddy, Derek Jeter, at shortstop.

Rodriguez isn't interested in that possibility.

"I like playing shortstop and I'm young," the 25-year-old said. "I want to play it until I'm 35 and then I'll study the possibility of being moved."

Rodriguez said he has not ruled out the possibility of staying with the Mariners, although he said he has eight teams that are interested in signing him.

"It's the only organization I've played with professionally," he said of the Mariners. "I have a lot of options and I'm studying them carefully."

Atlanta, Los Angeles and the Mets are the leading contenders to sign Rodriguez, who will likely be baseball's highest paid player.