Wrinkle in versatile outfielder's Mets deal gives Phillies a window to steal him

With the league officially slapping Johan Rojas with an 80-game suspension for his use of the performance enhancing substance Boldenone, the Phillies outfield picture seemingly has one spot left to be accounted for.  A plug for that hole may soon come in the form of a defection from a familiar foe. 

According to a report from Will Sammon of The Athletic, veteran outfielder Mike Tauchman, who is currently on a minor league deal with the New York Mets with an invitation to spring training, has an opt out built into his contract on March 25. Tauchman will receive the opportunity to reevaluate his market should the Mets choose not to add him to the Opening Day roster. The Mets’ first game is slated for March 26, as is the Phillies’ opener.

Tauchman, who has appeared in eight major league seasons, spent last season with the Chicago White Sox, moving to the South Side after two seasons in Wrigleyville. With the Pale Hose, Tauchman slashed.263/.356/.400. That was good for 1.9 wins above replacement, but not quite good enough for the White Sox to tender him a contract. 

Instead, Tauchman found himself on the open market after a second straight non-tender and had to settle for a minor league deal with the Mets. 

The newly acquired Luis Robert Jr. and superstar Juan Soto are locks for starting roles in the outfield. Mets top prospect Carson Benge is currently batting over .400 on the spring and is on track to claim the Opening Day right field assignment and make his big-league debut. 

Tyrone Taylor will be on hand as a glove-first defensive replacement, while Brett Baty is also slated to take his fair share of outfield duties. That may leave Tauchman on the outside looking in of the roster bubble, a situation that would likely lead him to searching for work elsewhere. 

Philadelphia may be the perfect landing spot for his services. 

Why Phillies are a perfect fit for Mets' Mike Tauchman

Adolís Garcia and Brandon Marsh are the only true outfielders currently on the Phillies major league roster. Kyle Schwarber, of course, is back but wouldn’t appear on the grass in an ideal season after accumulating –1.9 Baseball Reference dWar in just eight defensive games played last season. Justin Crawford will almost certainly be named the Opening Day center fielder, likely leaving one remaining spot for an outfielder on the bench.  

Tauchman isn’t a perfect fit. His left-handed bat would add to an outfield that is already lefty-heavy. However, what Tauchman would add is a lefty bat to what is projects to be righty-heavy bench. All of Otto Kemp, Edmundo Sosa and Dylan Moore swing from the right side.  

Garrett Stubbs is a lefty, while Rafael Marchán is a switch hitter. That means that, no matter which catcher makes the roster, using the only left-handed pinch-hitting option currently projected to make the team would burn the backup catcher. 

Tauchman, who has come off the bench 167 times over the course of his career, would give the Phillies a true left-handed pinch-hitter with a little pop (nine home runs last season) who is capable of playing all three outfield positions. Though he exclusively played right field on defense last year, he has over 100 major league games of experience both up the middle and in the other corner. 

Bryan De La Cruz, Tauchman’s main "competition" for the fourth outfielder spot, has produced a very solid spring, getting on base at a .378 clip over 34 plate appearances. Still, De La Cruz bats from the right side and has struck out at a 32.4% clip this spring after punching out in 26.2% of trips to the plate last year across 118 combined in the majors and minors. 

In contrast, Tauchman has struck out in just 23.3% of plate appearances this spring, right in line with his career strike out percentage of 23.4%. The 35-year-old's current slash line of .292/.433/.542 will likely be more than enough to earn himself a major league opportunity, even if it doesn’t come in New York. 

With the need for a left-handed bench bat and a spot still open for another outfielder, a proven veteran like Tauchman makes all the sense in the world for the Phillies.