David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported that the Atlanta Braves have signed infielder Omar Infante to a minor league contract. The Kansas City Royals designated Infante for assignment last week, then released him after he cleared waivers on June 23. He was part of two American League championship teams in Kansas City, and he got a World Series ring when the Royals won it all just a year ago.
Following a solid run with the Miami Marlins and Detroit Tigers from 2011-13, Infante signed a four-year, $30.25MM contract with Kansas City prior to the 2014 season. He hit .288/.318/.414 in the three years leading up to his free agency and also contributed solid defense at second base. However, now 34, he’s hitting a disappointing .239/.279/.321 with only ten extra-base hits in 149 plate appearances with the Royals this season. A lot of Royals fans expressed their gratitude for what Infante had done for the club, and he reciprocated by posting a thank-you note to Royals fans on social media.
Omar Infante signs Minor League deal with Braves
This will mark as Infante’s second tenure with Atlanta. He spent 2008-10 seasons with the Braves after being traded from the Chicago Cubs. He had a successful run with the Braves and even flirted with a batting title in 2010 before being traded to Miami in the Dan Uggla deal and then back to Detroit in the Anibal Sanchez swap.
His 2010 season with the Braves was the only All-Star season of his career. Infante has really struggled the last year-and-a-half, but should see playing time in a platoon with Jace Peterson in the future. While it’s likely that Omar is finished being an everyday player, the Braves could certainly use help up the middle. In parts of fifteen big league seasons, Infante is a .271/.308/.387 hitter with eighty-two home runs.
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