The Orioles have officially signed Endy Chavez to a one-year, $1.5MM major league deal. The deal will also give the outfielder the chance to earn another $500K through performance bonuses.

“Endy is a tremendous defender and gives us needed depth in the outfield,” said GM Dan Duquette in a press release. “He is a veteran player whose left-handed bat will give us options off the bench.”

The Mets showed interest in Chavez earlier this offseason and the Mariners and Rangers were both linked to the veteran recently. The 33-year-old hit .301/.323/.426 with five homers in 274 plate appearances for Texas in 2011.

Chavez has experience at all three outfield positions and played 66 games in center field last season. The veteran could be used to backup Adam Jones in center field or could be used in a platoon with Nolan Reimold in left field.

The agreement was first reported by Alexis Espejo L. of Lider en Deportes (Spanish link, translation provided by Nick Collias). Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter) was the first to learn that it was a one-year major league deal and terms were added by Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).