Omar Infante lands in Kansas City

Free agent second baseman Omar Infante has signed a four-year contract with the Kansas City Royals. The deal is said to be worth $30 million. He was one of the top free agents on the market for second base. He was signed by the Detroit Tigers in 1999 as an amateur free agent. He'd play for the Tigers for eight seasons, before being traded to the Atlanta Braves. He spent three seasons with the Braves. In his last season with the Braves, which was in 2010, he made the NL All-Star team. That was the first time he made an All-Star team in the MLB. The Miami Marlins got him from the Braves in a trade after the 2010 season. He spent a season and a half playing for the Marlins. On July 23, 2012, Infante was traded back to the Detriot Tigers with pitcher Aníbal Sánchez for pitchers Jacob Turner, Brian Flynn, and cather Rob Brantley.

How does Infante improve the Royals? The Royals needed a second baseman, and upgraded in Infante. He has some power, and can hit. He should do well in the Royals line up, who came close to making the playoffs last season. And he brings a little speed, if the Royals want to use him in the running game, which the Royals like to steal bases.

Infante has been in the MLB for twelve seasons, over that time his career stats are: 1,209 games played, 1,165 hits, 504 runs, 207 doubles, 42 triples, 74 home runs, 421 rbi's, 69 stolen bases, and a batting average of .279. His best season came in 2013, when he hit 318.

As of right now, the Royals look like they could make the playoffs in 2014. Will that happen? That remains to be seen. But, they have the right team to be able to make the playoffs if they can stay healthy. I think they need maybe one or two more starting pitchers though. I like the signing of Infante, after the Royals lost out on Carlos Beltran to the New York Yankees.