Royals sign Endy Chavez

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com just broke the news that the Kansas City Royals and free agent outfielder Endy Chavez have agreed to a deal.  ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has reported it to be a minor league deal.  The move looks like it’s geared towards adding some depth to the organization as Chavez will compete for a backup role.  This move has broken some silence, as the Royals have been very quiet as of late, as Michael Engel has noted.

Chavez is coming off a very bad season with the Orioles, where he hit .203 in 169 plate appearances.  He also landed on the disabled list twice and was designated for assignment on August 4th.  However, he was later added to their Wild Card and Division Series roster as his contract was selected on September 11th.

Sep 15, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Endy Chavez (9) makes a catch against the wall during the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Rangers Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

This will be the second time Chavez has graced this organization with his presence.  In 2001, he hit .208 while driving in five runs and hitting two doubles in a limited role during a span of 29 games.  Chavez, who will turn 35 in a month, has played for a plethora of teams including the Expos, Mets, and most recently the Orioles.  He might be most known for his catch in game 7 of the NLCS in 2006 where he robbed Scott Rolen of a two-run home run in a 1-1 game.  This outstanding catch can be viewed here.

Chavez did have a nice season with the Rangers in 2011 where he hit .301 and belted five home runs and knocked in 27 runs.  This was after not playing a single game in the majors in 2010 and only collecting 36 plate appearances in eight minor league games.  He could be a bit of good luck as he has also played for three different post season teams.  In the last two years he has played on two post season teams, so maybe there’s room to make it three in a row.