Royals Designate Omar Infante For Assignment

The Kansas City Royals have designated infielder Omar Infante for assignment. Infante was among the AL leaders at second base in All-Star votes. The team now has 10 days to release or trade Infante. 

We have recalled LHP Brian Flynn from Omaha today, and designated INF Omar Infante for assignment. #Royals

— #VoteRoyals (@Royals) June 15, 2016

Infante was hitting just .239 this season, with a .279 on-base percentage. However, those numbers were better than his stats last year. Infante had not started in the last 11 games for the Royals. He's been on the bench since a costly error early this season. 

With Royals fans once again stuffing the ballot box, Infante was third among second basemen for the All-Star game. Whit Merrifield and Christian Colon have both started in Infante's place in recent games. Colon has made the starts when Merrifield is in the outfield.  

The Royals owe Infante nearly $12.5 million through the 2017 season, plus a $2 million buyout for 2018. If the Royals can't find a trade partner to take on at least some of that money in a deal for Infante, the Royals would owe him the rest of his salary. 

Kansas City called up Flynn earlier this season. In five games, he pitched 7.1 innings, and recorded a win, a 4.91 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. He'll likely operate out of the bullpen like he did earlier this year.  

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