Mariners give Chavez, Gutierrez minor-league contracts, big-league invites

The Seattle Mariners made it official Monday: veteran outfielders Endy Chavez and Franklin Gutierrez are returning to the club on minor-league contracts that include invitations to big-league camp.

The News Tribune reported Chavez’s signing on Sunday while noting the club was close to a deal with Gutierrez.

Chavez, 36, is a 13-year veteran who split the last two seasons with the Mariners and Triple-A Tacoma. He batted .276 last year in 80 big-league games with two homers and 23 RBIs.

Gutierrez, 31, played five years for the Mariners from 2009-13 before missing all of last season because of severe gastrointestinal issues. That illness and other injuries limited him to 173 games from 2011 through the 2013 season.

The two additions swell the big-league camp roster to 57 players, including 17 non-roster invites.

Pitchers and catchers report for spring training on Feb. 20 at the Mariners’ year-round complex in Peoria, Arizona. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 25.