Major League Baseball

Atlanta Braves keep Gonzalez, Infante, Proctor

Published Nov. 2, 2010 11:55 p.m. ET

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The Braves exercised their 2011 options on infielders Alex Gonzalez and Omar Infante and reached a one-year deal Tuesday with right-hander Scott Proctor.

The team also declined options on outfielder Rick Ankiel and right-hander Kyle Farnsworth. Both came to Atlanta in a July 31 trade with Kansas City.

Gonzalez and Infante each had a $2.5 million option for next season. Infante would have received a $250,000 buyout if his option was declined.

Proctor gets a $750,000 contract, avoiding salary arbitration.

Atlanta turned down a $6 million mutual option on Ankiel, paying him a $500,000 buyout. The Braves declined a $5.25 million option on Farnsworth, who gets a $250,000 buyout. Both players became free agents.

The versatile Infante batted .321 and was selected to his first All-Star team this year.

Gonzalez was traded from Toronto to Atlanta on July 14. He had 23 homers and 88 RBIs combined, and his 42 doubles led all major league shortstops.

The 33-year-old Proctor had a 6.35 ERA in 5 2-3 innings with Atlanta last season as he began his comeback from 2009 elbow ligament replacement surgery.

Proctor led the American League with 83 appearances for the Yankees in 2006, when he was 6-4 with one save and a 3.52 ERA.

The Braves' five remaining arbitration-eligible players are outfielder Matt Diaz, infielder Martin Prado, right-handers Jair Jurrjens and Peter Moylan, and left-hander Eric O'Flaherty.

Ankiel and Farnsworth had disappointing results after coming to Atlanta from the Royals. Ankiel, 31, batted .210 with two home runs in 47 games, though he did hit an extra-inning homer in San Francisco that sent the Braves to their only playoff victory this year.

Farnsworth, 34, was 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 23 appearances.

The Braves sent reliever Jesse Chavez, outfielder Gregor Blanco and minor league pitcher Tim Collins to the Royals. Kansas City included cash in the deal.

The Braves also reinstated right-hander Jairo Asencio to the 40-man roster.

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