Former Mets playoff hero Endy Chavez has signed a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers.

Chavez is coming off surgery for a major knee injury that limited him to 54 games wit the Mariners last season.

“When he was right, we liked his ability to play all three outfield spots,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told MLB.com. “He’s got a reputation for being a great teammate and a hard worker. He can also handle the bat. We felt he was a good guy to bring in.”

Chavez, 32, will not be ready for the start of the season.

FOXSports.com last week reported the Mets were interested in possibly bringing Chavez back to New York, where he made a legendary catch against the Cardinals in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS.

If Chavez is added to the 40-man roster, he would get a $1 million, one-year contract, and the Rangers would have a $1.25 million option for 2011 with a $50,000 buyout, according to The Associated Press. If he has at least 30 days on the active roster during the 2010 season, the buyout would increase to $100,000.

He can earn an additional $180,000 in performance bonuses and $300,000 in roster bonuses this year, getting the full amounts for 250 plate appearances and 160 days on the active roster. The option year includes $750,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances up to 575.

With AP