Cincinnati Reds Interested In Omar Infante

Oct 19, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Omar Infante hits a single against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning in game six of the American League Championship Series playoff baseball game at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Yet again last night the Cincinnati Reds added more fuel to the Brandon Phillips trade rumor fire by saying they are “quiet interested” in the services of second baseman Omar Infante. Only problem with that is they have a second baseman who is owed $60M over the next five seasons.

Infante a free agent spent the last two seasons in Detroit. He currently has a reported 3 year $24M deal on the table from the New York Yankees. Infante is reportedly seeking a 4 year $40M deal.

Cincinnati would likely offer a deal somewhere in the range that the New York Yankees offered. Infante batted .318 last season with a  .349 OBP, numbers better than Phillips. Infante had his second best year has a hitter in 2013, can he repeat that is the question. If he can then maybe he is a $10M a year guy, if not he is more in the $8M range that the Yankees have offered him.

For the Reds to even sign Infante they first must find someone to take Brandon Phillips and his back loaded contract off their hands. The New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers are currently the two hot rumors for Phillips. Both potential suitors would likely see a clean swap. If one deal is more likely than the other it would appear to be the New York deal.

As for Phillips the rumors have gone too far, the front office has said too much to go back on it now. Phillips won’t be a Red come spring, if he is be prepared for the soap opera.