JUNE 23: Infante has cleared release waivers and is now a free agent, tweets Flanagan.
JUNE 21: The Royals have requested unconditional release waivers on Infante, per Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link). Infante, of course, figures to clear waivers with ease, as no big league club would be keen on acquiring the remainder of his salary. Once he clears (in 48 hours), he’ll be free to sign with any Major League team, at which point that team would be on the hook for only the pro-rated portion of the league minimum. (That sum would be subtracted from what the Royals owe.)
JUNE 15: The Royals have designated second baseman Omar Infante for assignment, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com tweets. His roster spot will go to lefty Brian Flynn.
Infante, 34, has been a major disappointment since signing as a free agent before the 2014 season. Kansas City still owes him the rest of a $7.75MM salary this year and another $10MM down the line, including a buyout of a 2018 option.
Technically, he could sill be claimed or traded, but both seem unlikely. Even a surprise swap would be quite unlikely to save K.C. much cash.
[RELATED: View the Royals’ new depth chart and projected lineup]
All told, Infante has provided the Royals with a .238/.269/.328 batting line with eight home runs and 11 stolen bases over 1,179 plate appearances. Though he’s been solid enough with the glove and on the bases, it hasn’t come close to making up for the offensive deficiencies. In the aggregate, he has played below replacement level.
That wasn’t the plan when the Royals added Infante, who had just wrapped up a solid 2013 campaign for the division-rival Tigers. Really, it’s a testament to how well the team has performed in the past two seasons that it was able to get by with his marginal contributions. While recent successes have moved the payroll up in the interim, Infante’s signing represented a rather significant commitment for the Royals at the time.
We’ve often discussed the possibility of the team pursuing an upgrade at second, but the final straw ultimately came from within. Surprising 27-year-old rookie Whit Merrifield supplanted Infante, with the presence of utilityman Christian Colon making him expendable.
Jose Reyes for him?
I don’t think anyone wants Reyes at all.
I know, I was just being facetious. Although someone will sign him.
But what about all those Royal fans that are voting him into the allstar game? I think he is 3rd for 2b right now. Not saying this will apply to him but intersting hypothetical question: What if a player wins the fan vote and is DFA by his team before the game? What uniform do they wear?
Anyone in this situation would don the 2014 Samardzija esque generic all star uni.
But you would think the individual would still be able to play for their league though. Not like Samardzija who was traded to a different league.
2nd i think
That sir is a really interesting question!!! If they are not even in MLB and say in the minors can they play?
Just ask the NHL and John Scott last year about that nightmare…
It would be similar to when the Royals traded Carlos Beltran to Houston several years ago. He was voted onto the Allstar team as a Royal, but he chose to play in the uniform of his then current team, the Astros.
Will he still start the all star game if he isn’t playing for anybody? Lol
It reminds me of a long time ago when Craig Hodges for the Bulls won the 3 point shootout 2 straight years and still defended his title (unsuccessfully) the next season in a generic NBA jersey after the Bulls cut him.
Anyone who gets DFA’d clearly has no business playing in the ASG and the fact that this is even a discussion further goes to show that fans shouldn’t be voting at all, especially since for some ridiculous reason the game has post season implications.
I agree
If the fans are voting, there is absolutely no reason why this game determines who hosts the World Series. I think the only vote that should be happening is when they give you pick the roster spot between the five players
Final roster spot**
Joey! We should start a movement for a write in candidate for a Single A player. Pick one and see if we can mess with the system. Either that or we could vote for a “player to be named later”.
Yeah not the only reason the fan vote is stupid
Like. To see infante back to Braves once he clears waivers
Yep. Option Jace Peterson and sign infante. Unless a bona fide contender(like Cubs) offers him a deal, I don’t see him going anywhere else.
And then make him the 16th player sent to the Indians.
I lol’ed
Jace has actually been hitting, and all-around playing, pretty dang well since his call back up to the bigs. Even though, it has only been a couple of games, but still Jace deserves some more time.
I mean, I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing Infante back in a Braves uniform, I absolutely loved Omar, when he played for the Braves!!
Although, realistically and quite unfortunately, for right now Jace needs the AB’s and defensive reps, so the F.O. can further determine what kind of role Jace can possibly play for this team going forward.
When Jace is fully healthy, he is a player that can provide a major league team with versatility and value. Since his demotion, when he had time to work more in the OF, Jace can now play an above average 2B, a solid LF, a solid CF, a pretty good 3B, and he can even play a below average to average SS, if the Braves need him to.
With the bat, he is very capable of hitting around .260-.275, while drawing some walks, and also he does come with the addition of some gap to gap power. On the bases, he can steal you the occasional bag or two, and he is a very capable and smart runner when he gets on, or as a pinch runner.
Those types of players do have value in the majors, and I strongly believe Jace could very well end up becoming a solid, albeit unspectacular, spot starter and a very valuable bench piece for the Braves moving forward.
Even as much as I would TRULY LOVE Infante back, I know his signing would ultimately just take away AB’s from Jace Peterson, and right now Peterson’s growth, development, and future are just MUCH more important than just seeing a former fan favorite trotting out there every other game or so.
Definitely got to agree that Jace has been a good asset for the braves since returning from his “get it together” trip to AAA.
Especially after tonight’s game. Good call gentlemen, we have some good players. They may not be all stars, but they fight.
Useless trivia, To acquire Infante from Miami the Tigers sent Flynn as part of the deal.
I had never heard of Roster Resource but it’s a really cool addition to the articles, seeing exactly what the roster repercussions of a particular move are.
I have to agree with you JD, it is definitely a pretty cool new addition!!
A congrats and a job well done has to go out to all of those who made it happen for MLBTR!!
As a daily and habitual reader of this site, I wholeheartedly approve, and I’m sure JD’s opinion and mine more than likely resemble the majority of fellow readers out there!!
Hope he makes it back to ATL.
the winner of the allstar game determines home field advantage in ws because television said so.
Mets should pick him up
Matt Kemp and 20 million dollars for Infante and a mid level prospect.
Infante just looks like he got old too quick. I loved watching his 1 and 1/2 years with the Marlins. Poster guy for a 3 out of 5 star 2b in his prime.
Braves sign infante, morse, and Crawford
Imagine if he would have been voted as the starting second baseman for the All Star Game. How the hell would that go down?
This is a whole other subject I wish MLB Trade Rumors would explore.