Mariners Sign OF Endy Chavez to Minor League Contract

Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today the club has signed outfielder Endy Chavez to a minor league contract. Chavez, who was released by Kansas City on Friday, will join the Mariners big league camp as a non-roster invitee.

With this roster addition, the Mariners now have 33 players on the spring training roster (27 roster players, 5 non-roster). Seattle has seven spring training games remaining prior to opening the 2013 season Monday, April 1 at Oakland.

Chavez, 35, was the Mariners Opening Day left fielder in 2009, but had his season cut short after suffering an ACL tear in his right knee in a collision with Yuniesky Betancourt. Chavez batted .273 (44x161) in 54 games with the Mariners.

He appeared in eight games in the minors in 2010 recovering from knee surgery, and hit .301 (77x274) with 10 stolen bases in 83 games for the Texas Rangers in 2011. Last season he appeared in 64 games for the Baltimore Orioles.

Chavez is a veteran of 11 Major League seasons with Kansas City (2001), Montreal/Washington (2002-05), Philadelphia (2005), New York Mets (2006-08), Seattle (2009), Texas (2011) and Baltimore (2012). He is a.269 hitter with 118 doubles, 32 triples, 26 home runs and 100 stolen bases in 974 career Major League games

Chavez will wear jersey #9 when he joins the Mariners today.