Mike Tauchman is in New York Mets camp on a minor league contract, with an opt-out on March 25 if he isn’t added to the roster, one day before the Mets open the season on March 26, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic.
The Mets already have two outfield positions locked, with Juan Soto in left and Luis Robert Jr. in center. The right field spot was intentionally left open for prospect Carson Benge, who has yet to debut in the majors, so the team needs contingency options.
Tyrone Taylor could fill that role as a glove-first fourth outfielder, while Brett Baty will serve in a super-utility capacity. Tauchman provides another bench option without occupying a roster spot, and catcher MJ Melendez could still be sent to Triple-A thanks to remaining options.
In spring training, Benge has hit .367/.406/.433, though his BABIP of .440 may not be sustainable, while Tauchman has outperformed him with a .333/.481/.619 line and a .400 BABIP.
Sammon notes that while both could theoretically make the roster, the club’s roster is tight, especially with Francisco Lindor trending toward Opening Day readiness.
Backup catcher Luis Torrens occupies one bench spot, Taylor and Mark Vientos likely fill two more, leaving one potential spot for a backup infielder like Ronny Mauricio.
Mauricio has options remaining, so the Mets could send him to Triple-A and add Tauchman to the bench, though that would reduce infield depth.
The Mets could rely on starter versatility—Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette can cover multiple positions, Baty can play second and third, Mark Vientos covers third, and Jorge Polanco primarily plays first but has experience at second and third.
Sending Mauricio down could also give him regular playing time after missing much of 2024 and most of 2025 due to an ACL injury. Vidal Bruján is on the roster but out of options; the Mets may try to pass him through waivers.
If Tauchman doesn’t make the Mets, he could pursue opportunities elsewhere. Over the past three seasons, he has compiled a .255/.359/.381 line (111 wRC+) with solid plate discipline—13% walks and 21.3% strikeouts—and strong defensive grades, totaling 4.1 WAR in 310 games, yet teams have been cautious in investing in him.
He was non-tendered by the Chicago Cubs after 2024 despite a projected $2.9MM salary, spent 2025 with the Chicago White Sox, performed decently, and was again non-tendered with a projected $3.4MM salary.
