Lonnie Chisenhall is 30 years old. At that age, a player usually is who he is.
However, there is a feeling among some executives and scouts that Chisenhall hasn't reached his full potential. Thus, there is seemingly some upside to the Pirates signing the outfielder to a one-year, $2.75-million contract that included the opportunity to make as many as $3 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances.
The deal was officially announced Tuesday.
"Lonnie Chisenhall adds an experienced, productive and versatile player to our major league team," Neal Huntington said. "When healthy, Lonnie has been a quality hitter while offering defensive flexibility."
The Pirates designated right-hander Alex McRae for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot for Chisenhall. McRae, 25, made his major league debut this year and was 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA in two games.
Chisenhall broke into the major leagues with the Indians in 2011 and played eight seasons for them. He hit .268/.320/.427 with 64 home runs in 688 games.
More was expected, considering Chisenhall has a pedigree of being a first-round draft pick. Cleveland selected him 29th overall in 2008 from Pitt Community College in North Carolina.
"He has talent," an Indians' source, who requested to remain anonymous, told DKPittsburghSports.com. "But it's more a case of the game has come to him rather than him going to the game. What I'm trying to say is that he's never really maximized his ability. He's had a good career, but I believe there is more in there."
Chisenhall's 2018 was torpedoed by strained muscles in both calves. He appeared in just 29 games and had a .321/.394/.452 line with one homer while making $5,587,500.
In 2017, Chisenhall put up good numbers as he hit .288/.360/.521 with 12 homers. Yet, he was limited to 82 games because of a strained right calf.
"I really think he was on his way to becoming the player so many of us thought he could be," said a scout from a major league team, who asked to remain anonymous because he is not authorized to talk publicly about players. "Then he got hurt. I think if he stays healthy, it's a signing that will pay off for the Pirates. He could be one of those change-of-scenery guys.
"He's not going to be a superstar at this stage. What he can do, though, is give them some production at a very good price. He's got a nice line-drive stroke with some pop."
The scout then paused.
"If he's healthy," he said.
The Pirates aren't expecting full-time contributions from Chisenhall.
He will have the opportunity to be the primary right fielder to begin next season while Gregory Polanco recovers from left shoulder surgery. Once Polanco returns — which could be anytime from mid-April to mid-June — Chisenhall likely would move into a bench role.
The Steamer projection system pegs Chisenhall to hit .259/.321/.414 with eight homers in 77 games.
Chisenhall would earn $250,000 apiece for reaching 250, 300, 350 and 400 plate appearances and $500,000 each for 450, 500, 550 and 600 trips to the plate. He can also earn bonuses for finishing in the top three in the National League MVP voting and winning a Gold Glove, National League Championship Series MVP and World Series MVP.
Chisenhall was a third baseman until moving to right field midway through the 2015 season. He has made 319 career starts at third, 196 in right, 20 in center field, eight in left field and five at first base.
However, defense has not been Chisenhall's strong suit in recent years. After being credited with 11 defensive runs saved (DRS) in just 51 games in 2015, he had a combined minus-2 DRS in 191 games over the past three seasons.
"I have rarely seen a player make such a seamless transition while shifting positions in the middle of a season," the scout said. "I think the leg problems have really slowed him down, though. He got to everything when he first moved to the outfield, but he's definitely been a step behind the last couple of years."
The Pirates selected Chisenhall in the 11th round of the 2006 draft from East Carteret High School in Morehead City, N.C. He instead decided to attend the University of South Carolina, where he was dismissed from the team as a freshman after he and a teammate were accused of stealing a flat-screen TV, PlayStation 3, and DVDs from a fellow student's dormitory room.
Chisenhall transferred to Pitt C.C. and has avoided further trouble.
"He's not a guy you worry about," the Indians' source said. "He's on the quiet side, but he's a good guy and a good teammate. Everybody likes Lonnie."