Mariners sign Endy Chavez

The Seattle Mariners have brought back veteran outfielder Endy Chavez on a minor-league deal, reports John Schlegel of MLB.com.

Chavez, 35, was released by the Royals earlier in the week and is now a non-roster invitee at M's camp in Peoria. He will likely start the year at Triple-A and be used only as an insurance policy should Franklin Gutierrez go down again. However, his signing could also lead to Seattle shopping fellow outfielder Casper Wells, who may now be expendable, according to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.

Garland opts out

The Mariners have released right-hander Jon Garland.

Spring Training with the Mariners is familiar territory for Chavez. The lefty-swinging outfielder was the Mariners' Opening Day left fielder in 2009, but made it just half the year before a gruesome collision with teammate Yuniesky Betancourt knocked him out for the remainder of the season (and all of the following year).

Chavez returned to action in 2011 as the Texas Rangers' fourth outfielder and posted some of his best numbers at the dish -- hitting .301/.323/.426 in 83 games.

Chavez then moved on to the Baltimore Orioles in 2012, batting a career-worst .203/.236/.278 with just two big flies in 169 plate appearances. The 11-year MLB veteran hasn't fared any better thus far this spring, hitting just .188/.212/.188 with no extra-base hits in 18 games for Kansas City.