New Mets outfielder brings wrinkle to right field competition
· Yahoo Sports
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mike Tauchman had multiple offers on the table from other teams before he signed his minor-league deal with the Mets this week.
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The fact that he’ll have an opportunity to earn a roster spot this spring with the Mets — a team with World Series aspirations — was what made the decision to take his talents to Port St. Lucie simple for the veteran outfielder.
“I like the opportunity,” Tauchman told NJ.com in front of his new locker in the Mets’ clubhouse at Clover Park on Thursday. “I felt like in speaking with them that there was a good chance to make the team and have the camp experience that I think is best for me to get ready for the season. That’s kind of ultimately what it came down to.”
That means Tauchman will have a respectable chunk of playing time in a Mets uniform in Grapefruit League games. That’s how he’ll either put himself in a position to be the Mets’ starting right fielder (if he can beat out top prospect Carson Benge), earn a bench spot or position himself for an opportunity elsewhere.
“He’s going to be a part of that competition,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Really good defender, can play all three [outfield positions], he controls the zone really well, some damage there too offensively.”
Tauchman, 35, produced plus-three defensive runs saved in right field last season with the White Sox. He was on the Cubs in the two years before that. Over those last three seasons — since he played in Korea for one year in 2022 — the lefty-swinging outfielder has slashed .255/.359/.381 with a 111 wRC+ in 310 games. Only 10 other left-handed hitters with 1,000-plus plate appearances have gotten on base more frequently than Tauchman in that span.
As Mendoza alluded to, the floor of good at-bats and quality defense is the allure with Tauchman. He’d be a prototypical stop-gap option to step in until Benge is ready if the Mets decide to give the youngster more time to develop in Triple-A.
Tauchman being on a minor-league deal is working against him. He’ll need to do enough this spring to show he’s worthy of leapfrogging other players at camp to secure a spot on the 40-man roster. In that sense, it’s more convenient for the Mets to break camp with an outfielder like MJ Melendez. Tyrone Taylor, meanwhile, is expected to be the club’s fourth outfielder to begin the year.
It’s easy to envision what Tauchman will bring, though, if he does make the club. The starting spot in right field seems to be Benge’s job to lose, but Tauchman’s presence is worth keeping an eye on.
“I feel like I’ve been pretty consistent these last few years in terms of what I bring to the table,” Tauchman said. “Production, some versatility in the outfield and the ability to have a good at-bat. Some things I’ve learned along the way, like when to take some chances and trying to slug a little bit more, things like that. My goal has always just been to help my team win that day. So that hasn’t changed.”
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