The New York Mets are running out of time to make a roster decision on veteran outfielder Mike Tauchman with an Opening Day matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, March 26, a little more than a week away.
Tauchman can opt out of his contract on Wednesday, March 25, if he isn’t on the Mets’ roster, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic. The 35-year-old journeyman is battling for the right field job with top prospect Carson Benge and converted infielder Brett Baty. “Smart baseball player,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, relayed by Sammon. “It’s just a guy who knows how to play the game.”
The lefty-swinging Tauchman has done everything he can to make his case for a roster spot this spring. The veteran is slashing .333/.481/.619 with three doubles and a home run across 10 Spring Training games.
New York Mets Must Make Roster Choice on Mike Tauchman by March 25
Tauchman spent last season with the Chicago White Sox. He provided a strong 115 wRC+ across 93 games. He popped nine home runs while bouncing between right field and DH. Injuries limited Tauchman on multiple occasions this past year. He strained his hamstring in early April and was sidelined for six weeks. A right knee meniscus tear ended his season prematurely in late September.
The Colorado Rockies selected Tauchman in the 10th round of the 2013 draft. He debuted with the club in 2017, but failed to provide consistent production in two seasons in the majors. Tauchman broke out in 2019 with the New York Yankees. The club acquired him in an otherwise unremarkable trade for lefty Phillip Diehl, but it paid big dividends. Tauchman posted a career-high 128 wRC+ in his first year with the Yankees. He hit .277 with 13 home runs and six stolen bases.
Tauchman played parts of the next two seasons with New York before bouncing around the league. He closed the 2021 campaign with the San Francisco Giants, then latched on with the Chicago Cubs. Tauchman earned a semi-regular role with the Cubs before landing with the cross-town rival White Sox. He’s shown a solid ability to get on base at every stop, delivering a double-digit walk rate in each season of his career. Tauchman has a .347 OBP in 1,803 MLB plate appearances.
Who Will Play Right Field for the Mets?
The Mets’ outfield will look significantly different this season. Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Texas Rangers. Cedric Mullins and Starling Marte departed in free agency. Juan Soto, the lone holdover, will move from right field to left field. New York traded for Luis Robert Jr. to patrol center field. The club also signed MJ Melendez as a depth option.
Benge seems like Tauchman’s main competition at the moment. The 23-year-old is among the top prospects in the Mets’ system. He’s had a big spring himself, slashing .406/.472/.500 in 36 plate appearances. Benge struggled at Triple-A to close the 2025 campaign, but his overall numbers were excellent. He posted a 150 wRC+ in 116 games between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. The Mets could opt to give him another shot at Triple-A after he hit just .178 at the level. Starting Benge in the minors would allow the organization to retain a veteran like Tauchman.
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