Veteran infielder Infante clears waivers, becomes free agent

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Veteran infielder Omar Infante cleared waivers Thursday and became a free agent.

Infante was designated for assignment June 15 by the Kansas City Royals, who chose to pay him the nearly $14 million remaining on his contract rather than let him ride the bench as a utility player.

Infante spent his first six seasons in Detroit. He later played for Atlanta, earning an All-Star nod with the Braves in 2010, and briefly spent time in Miami before returning to the Tigers for two more seasons.

But after signing with Kansas City, the career .271 hitter began a slow decline, his bat speed and fielding ability no longer what it was in his prime. He hit only eight homers with the Royals, two fewer than his final season with Detroit.