The Pirates may have filled what will at least be a short-term vacancy in right field next season by signing free agent outfielder/third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall to a one-year, $2.75-million contract in free agency.
The signing, which was first reported by The Athletic on Monday, was confirmed by DKPittsburghSports.com and will be officially announced Tuesday.
Chisenhall, 30, can also make up to an additional $3 million in plate-appearance incentives. The left-handed hitter would receive $250,000 for reaching each threshold of 250, 300, 350 and 400 trips to the plate and $500,000 for 450, 500, 550 and 600.
Chisenhall was limited to just 29 games with the Indians this year because of strains in both calves. He batted .321/.394/.452 with one home run in 95 plate appearances.
Starting right fielder Gregory Polanco is not expected to be ready for the March 28 opener at Cincinnati as he is recovering from left shoulder surgery. He could be out until sometime in June,
Chisenhall has spent his entire career with the Indians. He debuted in 2011 and hit .268/.320/.427 with 64 homers in 688 games over eight seasons.
Chisenhall broke into the majors as a third baseman but shifted to the outfield midway through the 2015 season. The Pirates already have a crowded situations at third with Colin Moran and Jung Ho Kang.
The Pirates drafted Chisenhall in the 11th round in 2006, following his senior year of high school in Morehead City, N.C., but he opted to attend the University of South Carolina. After one year with the Gamecocks, Chisenhall transferred to Pitt Community College in Winterville, N.C. and was drafted in the first round in 2008 by the Indians.