Chavez enjoying second stay in Seattle

SEATTLE -- Endy Chavez has come seriously full circle with the Mariners.

The first time the veteran outfielder was with the club, in 2009, he tore a ligament in his knee in June and missed the rest of the season. At the time, he was helping the Mariners with a .273 average, nine stolen bases and excellent defense. A little over a month later, a 22-year-old from Triple-A named Michael Saunders was called up to the Majors and got some time in the outfield.

This year, the Mariners added Chavez as a Minor League signing at the end of Spring Training, and when Saunders went on the disabled list with a sprained right shoulder on April 10, the team called on Chavez. Once again, he's helping the team.

Entering Friday's game against the Angels, Chavez was batting .310 with three RBIs, two doubles and his usual solid defense. He said it's been great to return to the organization.

"I always liked it here," said Chavez, who knew current Mariners Felix Hernandez, Franklin Gutierrez, Michael Morse and Saunders from his time here in 2009 and in Spring Training that year. "They gave me an opportunity to play that year, and they're giving me an opportunity now, and I'm doing my best to help them win.

"It's kind of funny that it's worked out this way, but that's baseball."