While the Yankees remain the favorites to retain Robinson Cano, they won’t be caught short if they need to replace the jewel of the free-agent class.
According to industry sources, general manager Brian Cashman has checked on second baseman Omar Infante during the period when teams and players could talk about everything but money.
That ends Tuesday, when teams can negotiate dollars and free agents can sign.
Asked if he were looking for second-base insurance in case Cano shocks the baseball universe and leaves The Bronx — or simply doing due diligence — Cashman responded, “Calling them all.’’
While Infante, who recently signed with agent Gene Mato, isn’t the player Cano is, he is considered the second-best free agent second baseman and wouldn’t cost the Yankees anywhere near what Cano — who asked the Yankees for a 10-year deal worth $300 million — will get from the Yankees or another club.
Since the Tigers aren’t going to offer Infante the $14.1 million qualifying offer, the team signing the 12-year veteran won’t forfeit a draft choice.
Infante, who will turn 32 on Dec. 26, made $4 million this past season when he batted .318 in 118 games for the Tigers. He was out from July 4 to August 12 with a left ankle injury.
Infante was one of several Detroit players to struggle at the plate in the postseason, going .8-for-39 (.205) in 11 games. Against the Red Sox in the ALCS, the right-handed hitter went 3-for-21 (.143).
Cashman is smart to be calling around, because Cano’s possible full-time replacement isn’t in house.
Cano will be offered the qualifying offer by Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline. So, too, will Hiroki Kuroda. Considering the Yankees need three starters behind CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova, they would welcome Kuroda back despite a late-season fade from the right-hander, who will be 39 in February.
As of 4 p.m. Sunday, Matt Brown, Curtis Granderson’s agent, hadn’t been informed whether the Yankees plan to make a qualifying offer to his client.
“We have not heard anything yet,’’ Brown said.
If the offer is made and accepted, Granderson becomes a signed player for the 2014 season. If he rejects it and signs with another club, the Yankees will receive a compensatory draft pick in June.
By accepting the qualifying offer, Granderson could use 2014 to help erase 2013, when he was limited to 61 games due to a fractured right forearm and a fractured left pinkie and become a free agent following the season.
One day after throwing upwards of 150 pitches in Saturday’s Game 6 of the Nippon Professional Baseball Series and absorbing his first loss of the season, right-hander Mashiro Tanaka worked the final inning of Game 7 Sunday and saved Rakuten’s clinching victory.
Tanaka, who the Yankees will have a big interest in once he is posted, gave up two hits and struck out two in his second relief outing of the season.
The 25-year-old right-hander was 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA during the regular season.
Tanaka is waiting for MLB and Nippon Professional League to agree on a new posting system. The posting price is expected to top the $51.7 million the Rangers used to win the negotiating rights to Yu Darvish.