Braves Re-Sign Omar Infante to Two-Year Deal

by gondeee on Jan 12, 2009 3:09 PM EST in Free Agents Comment 61 comments

From an Atlanta Braves press release about the re-signing of Omar Infante:

The Atlanta Braves have agreed to terms with right-handed hitter Omar Infante on a two-year contract for the 2009 and 2010 seasons that also includes a club option for the 2011 season. Financial terms of the deal were not announced. He was due to become a free agent after the 2009 season.

Infante's value is pretty high in my book. His versatiliy, excellent defense, and capeable hitting is a rare package in one player, and for him to commit to this kind of role for three more years means he's the right man for the job.

The versatile Infante started 77 games at five different positions last season including third base (26), left field (26), shortstop (15), second base (9) and center field (1). He also hit in seven different spots in the batting order.

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Awesome.

Glad to see the Braves will still have him for at least two more years. When the annual Chipper injury hits, we’ll get to watch a guy barehand every ball hit in his direction, as well as hit .300.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jan 12, 2009 3:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Why do you think

he’ll hit 300? He hasn’t hit 300 since 2002, and last year’s 293 was aided by a fluky LD rate.

Formerly Uncle Charlie of Minor League Ball

by Yakker on Jan 12, 2009 3:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just a negligent comment based on his reliable bat during that miserable stretch last season where everyone was injured, and Omar Infante became the one and only reliable bat, and actually clawed his way back to a .300 average for a good stretch of time.

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jan 12, 2009 3:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i loved it when he batted int he 3 hole, classic…. also contributed to alcohol use (or abuse)…didnt he bat cleanup a couple times as well?

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Jan 12, 2009 10:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Another, subtle, good move. Good job Frank.

FIRE FRANK WREN! GO RED SOX! I HATE THE BRAVES! SAY GOODBYE TO MY 9 GAME FLEX PLAN MONEY! YOU'LL NEVER SEE ME AGAIN!

by 10-4 on Jan 12, 2009 3:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Nice

Seems like losing Smoltzie has put our ass in gear finally

by bravesguy311 on Jan 12, 2009 3:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Have to see the financials of course, but I don’t really like this that much.

Infante is a bad hitter who was passable last year as result of a 30% LD rate. He is versatile, but isn’t even an average fielder at those positions. He’s a downright bad baserunner. He’s worth maybe half a WAR if he gets around 350 PAs again. That’s not the kind of player you guarantee two years too, unless the money is really good for the Braves – like $2 million or less.

by 17843 on Jan 12, 2009 3:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I disagree competely

Infante was arguably one of our top 3 MVPs last year.

"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill -

by justincredubil02 on Jan 12, 2009 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Uh, no. Those were Chipper, McCann, and Jurrjens.

by 17843 on Jan 12, 2009 7:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

infante was a MVP in the same way jason bartlett was the rays MVP last year

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 12, 2009 7:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

or maybe

you guys could re-read what i wrote and see those little words “Arguably one of…” that implies that there were others who were better, but he could be mentioned in the same breath.

"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill -

by justincredubil02 on Jan 12, 2009 8:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He can’t though. Arguably means there’s a legit argument to be made for him. A player worth one win cannot be mentioned in the same breath as Jones, McCann, Jurrjens, Escobar, Johnson, or Hudson, all worth over 2 wins.

by 17843 on Jan 12, 2009 9:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

yes, bc made up “win worth” statistics are the end all tell all. dude, do you think that we would have been half as “good” as we were last year without Infante? Have you ever heard of Role Players? He is a ROLE PLAYER, who at times, proved more valuable to the team than anyone else. i am not saying he is the best player on the team or should hit in the cleanup spot, or even start. I am saying that he is a player who makes our team so much better with him than without.

You want a legit argument? Ok, here is one. He hit .300. He was HUGE for us when chipper was hurt. he can play any position (except battery-mate) and he is adequate in the field anywhere you put him. How is that for a legit argument?

"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill -

by justincredubil02 on Jan 12, 2009 9:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

HE DIDNT HIT .300. can you read?

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 12, 2009 9:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

using batting avg to explore a player’s use…. how far you’ve fallen?

;(

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Jan 12, 2009 10:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

my bad...

he was .007 percentage points away from a .300 average. I am sorry that I rounded up .007 percentage points….

"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill -

by justincredubil02 on Jan 13, 2009 10:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

actually, you round 3’s down

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 13, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1 for the “made up ‘win worth’ statistics” crack.

by cbwilk on Jan 12, 2009 10:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Role players are role players. Not MVPs. By definition.

And thanks for the anti-intellectualism. Appreciated.

by 17843 on Jan 13, 2009 1:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's

Chipper, McCann, Huddy

by mattdiaz4life on Jan 13, 2009 12:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

While I agree that the chances of him putting up a similar offensive season again are slim, I still believe it’s a good signing after taking a look at the terms.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 12, 2009 5:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, the financials look appropriate.

by 17843 on Jan 12, 2009 7:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey...

Maybe we aren’t trading Chipper after all.

by someguy917 on Jan 12, 2009 4:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't have my sarcasm goggles on

so, I have to ask…are you serious?

"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill -

by justincredubil02 on Jan 12, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well kinda...

It wasn’t serious, but not really sarcasm. I don’t think we will be trading Chipper.

by someguy917 on Jan 12, 2009 7:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Troy Renck says the deal is worth $4.35MM. The club 2011 club option is for $2.5MM with a $250K buyout.

by Bravofan on Jan 12, 2009 4:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He will make $1.85 million this season and $2.25 million in 2010 with a club option for $2.5 million or a $250,000 buyout.

by Bravofan on Jan 12, 2009 4:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

IMHOTEP!!!!!! probably the highlight of my trip to atlanta last year

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 12, 2009 4:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This is a Great Deal!!He only avoids one year of arbitration, which makes this deal an absolute steal for the Braves. Infante will make $1.8 million in 2009, $2.25 million in 2010 and there’s a $2.5 million option for 2011. He would have been eligible for free agency after 2009, which means the Braves effectively paid him $1.8 million for arbitration this year (he could’ve made more) and then bought two free agent years for a total of $4.75 million. That’s an unbelievable bargain. Great signing.

by Bravofan on Jan 12, 2009 4:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’m calling plagiarism on this one.

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7969503&postcount=11

by tgthree on Jan 12, 2009 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Busted!

How funny is that! He stole from someone on another board thinking he could pass it off as his own only to find that it was one of our members who made the original post. How pathetic does he look now?

"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST

by scstrato on Jan 12, 2009 4:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know. It is kind of sad that I caught him within 14 minutes though. Was just checking around the interwebs for the reactions to the signing, and I thought the language sounded sort of familiar.

by tgthree on Jan 12, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why would you bother stealing someone's post?

I mean, I can see stealing from an article to make yourself appear smart – college students do it all the time. But stealing someone’s opinion? That seems awfully pathetic – no offense to tgthree, of course.

"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09

by buzzdeadwax on Jan 12, 2009 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wanna get away?

Now you can. Southwest Airlines offers the cheapest flights coast to coast…

"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill -

by justincredubil02 on Jan 12, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Nearly crapped my pants reading that!

"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST

by scstrato on Jan 12, 2009 4:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+100

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

by tgthree on Jan 12, 2009 4:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that is certainly something else. treeeeemendous

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 12, 2009 5:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that is pretty pathetic to steal someone else’s post. I actually like this resigning by the Braves lot, if we can get another pitcher and LF (am I stupid for thinking a Brandon Jones/Matt Diaz platoon would work as a last option?) out of this off season, I may actually be pretty optimistic.

by bengoodfella on Jan 12, 2009 5:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

in short yes u are stupid if you think that

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Jan 12, 2009 10:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He did say as a last option. So I don’t think he’s stupid. I just hope it doesn’t come to that.

by cbwilk on Jan 12, 2009 10:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As a LAST OPTION

that will have to work.

by mattdiaz4life on Jan 13, 2009 12:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ha, I can’t believe that just happened…and after that entire thread about plagiarism…

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 12, 2009 5:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Epic fail

I’m thinking the odds he shows his face again are around 99 to 1. That or we get one of the obligatory “I didn’t mean to …” responses.

"Debated ya right not one person agreed with me" by ATLsportsfrk on Dec 27, 2008 6:31 PM EST

by scstrato on Jan 12, 2009 6:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He won't respond again...

Actually I’m willing to bet he will change his username come back on the site.

"The only time the Mets win is in the offseason"

by Falconzfan284 on Jan 12, 2009 6:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm ...

You done it before?

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Jan 12, 2009 6:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

OT

ESPN Classic is about to show Game 7 of the ’91 World Series.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by beeniez on Jan 12, 2009 7:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

crap...

24 is on….dangit all!

"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill -

by justincredubil02 on Jan 12, 2009 8:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

why would you want to watch a heartbreaking loss over JACK BAUER?

BIG JOE SUCK ONE

by bigjoe on Jan 12, 2009 8:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i dont

that is why i am watching JB! :)

"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill -

by justincredubil02 on Jan 12, 2009 9:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jack Bauer...

Is overrated.

by mburris1 on Jan 12, 2009 9:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

BLASPHEMEY!!!!

Superman wears Jack Bauer underwear.

"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill -

by justincredubil02 on Jan 12, 2009 9:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sure...

For the purpose of soiling them in a statement of power, I assume.

(For the record, I am saying that Superman shits on Jack Bauer.)

by mburris1 on Jan 12, 2009 11:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

and according to Thom Brenneman, Superman wears Tebow underwear.

by H0SS on Jan 12, 2009 11:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As an OU Sooner

I am 100% with anyone shitting on Tim Tebow.

by mburris1 on Jan 13, 2009 12:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Boise State!!!

Clap Clap, Clap Clap Clap

Ian Johnson

Clap Clap, Clap Clap Clap

(Sorry, I couldn’t resist!!)

best defensive shortstop in baseball hahahahahahahahahah (omar visquel)

by mvandonsel on Jan 13, 2009 1:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have been emotionally stunted.

Your attempts at shaming me are negated by my unmitigated ability to block out pain with apathy!

Haha.

by mburris1 on Jan 13, 2009 2:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hahaha...

best defensive shortstop in baseball hahahahahahahahahah (omar visquel)

by mvandonsel on Jan 13, 2009 3:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Best. Bowl. Game. Ever.

by soup du jour on Jan 13, 2009 9:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That is a matter of perspective…

by mburris1 on Jan 13, 2009 10:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

These Prime 9 shows are completely arbitrary and not particularly interesting. I’m already starting to get sick of Harold Reynolds.

by Land-Man on Jan 12, 2009 8:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Infante was 13th on the WARP leaderboard for Atlanta last season…behind Francoeur, ahead of Kotsay.

/BP subscriber

by mattdiaz4life on Jan 13, 2009 1:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

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