Heyman: Yankees Pivot From Phillips, Offer Infante 3-Year Contract
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Yankees might do it by committee, but they are hell bent on replacing Robinson Cano at second base.
Already with veteran Kelly Johnson in the fold for next season, the Bombers have offered free agent Omar Infante a three-year contract, CBSSports.com and WFAN baseball insider Jon Heyman reported Thursday. It is believed Infante, who has also drawn interest from the Kansas City Royals, is seeking a four-year, $40 million deal.
If the sides work something out, the Yankees would be receiving a very good contact hitter and fairly reliable glove. Infante batted .318 with 10 homers and 51 RBI, and committed 10 errors in 509 total chances at second for the Detroit Tigers last season. He has been used in all three outfield positions, at shortstop and at third during his 12-year career, which seems to jive with Johnson, who has shown similar versatility.
And considering the Yankees may need to find a way to not only replace Cano, but also Alex Rodriguez at third should at least part of his 211-game suspension be upheld, it's understandable why the Yankees have the interest in Infante.
Infane is a career .279 hitter with 74 home runs and 421 RBI.
On Wednesday the Yankees rejected a trade offer from the Cincinnati Reds that would have sent second baseman Brandon Phillips to New York for outfielder Brett Gardner. The sticking point was Phillips' desire to have his contract, which has four years and $50 million remaining, re-worked, Heyman reported.
General manager Brian Cashman has said he likes Gardner and doesn't want to trade him, even though the Yankees have a glut of outfielders, having added Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran this offseason to a group that includes Gardner, Alfonso Soriano, Vernon Wells and Ichiro Suzuki.
Phillips, a three-time All-Star, hit .261 with 18 home runs and 103 RBI last season.
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