Sorry Mets fans — Endy Chavez will not be returning to the Mets anytime soon. Chavez has signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers.

It’s just as well, since the Mets already have enough slap-hitting defensive specialists in the outfield. It would have been really awkward if Endy didn’t show enough in the spring to earn a spot on the 25-man roster.

Also, former Yankee ace Chien-Ming Wang has signed a deal with the Washington Nationals — according to Chico Harlan, who also reports that Wang “already passed a physical”. How does one who can’t throw a baseball pass a physical conducted by someone other than the Mets?

Wang is not expected to return from shoulder surgery until at least May, which when converted from baseball time into real time means “September”. Still, not a bad gamble by the Nats, who are spending the same amount of guaranteed dough that the Mets are handing to Alex Cora. Washington could be setting themselves up for a run at the postseason in 2011.

In other news, Daisuke Takahashi is a Japanese figure skater and NOT related to Ken Takahashi, Hisanori Takahashi, nor Daisuke Matsuzaka. However the Mets may still consider sending him an ST invite once the Olympics end, if he can throw with his left hand or is willing to squat behind home plate.