Royals sign Tejada, Endy to Minor League deals

The club signed outfielder Endy Chavez and infielder -- and former American League Most Valuable Player Award winner -- Miguel Tejada to Minor League deals.

The Royals tweeted late Monday night that they agreed with Tejada, who last played a big league game in 2011 with San Francisco, to a Minor League contract for the 2013 season. The Associated Press reported that the deal was worth $1.1 million with $400,000 available in performance bonuses.

"I'm very pleased with this," said the 38-year-old Tejada, who boasts 304 lifetime homers and a career batting average of .285 to go along with his 2002 MVP Award. "The contract with the Royals is a done deal. I'm going to try to help this team and their younger players. I'm so happy because this is what I was aiming for, a chance to get back to the Majors."

Tejada, a six-time All-Star, hit .239 with four homers and 26 RBIs in 91 games in 2011. He has 15 seasons of big league experience with the A's, Orioles, Astros, Padres and Giants. He spent the 2012 season with Baltimore's Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk until he requested a release, which he was granted on June 25.

Chavez will return to the team with which he made his Major League debut more than a decade ago after agreeing to a Minor League deal with the Royals, the club confirmed on Monday. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com initially reported the deal.

Chavez figures to compete with Jarrod Dyson for occasional playing time as a fourth outfielder behind starting outfielders Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain and Jeff Francoeur.

Chavez, who will turn 35 in February, made his Major League debut with the Royals in 2001 after he was taken from the Mets in the 2000 Rule 5 Draft. He has since racked up a .269 career average with 26 home runs, 229 RBIs and 100 stolen bases over 11 seasons with seven different teams.

Last year, Chavez hit .203 with a pair of homers and 12 RBIs in 64 games while appearing at all three outfield positions with the Orioles.