Mike Tauchman’s versatility makes him a no-brainer target

Vincent Carchietta - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 5 hours ago

With Kyle Tucker officially on the free agent market and gone at this point, the Cubs will once again be in the market for an outfielder. However, unlike the previous two offseasons, they don't necessarily need a starting-caliber outfielder, as Seiya Suzuki could ultimately slide back into right full-time to solve that area of need.

You also have the internal options of Kevin Alcantara and Owen Caissie, barring either one still being on this team on opening day. Can the Cubs trust either one with an everyday role? Let's assume that Suzuki does move back to right, and that some combination of Caissie and Moises Ballesteros begins to take over the DH role. The Cubs would still need a fourth outfielder.

Those are the guys who know their role on a team, can play any of the three outfield spots, and would be able to spell any of the Cubs' starting outfielders at any point in the season. While there are several players like that in free agency, why not go for someone the organization is familiar with, as Mike Tauchman makes all too much sense for this role.

The now 35-year-old Illinois Native has spent his last three seasons in the Chicago area, playing 2023-24 with the Cubs before venturing off to the Southside last season. Even if the numbers don't scream' everyday player' at you, Tauchman did all that was asked of him, no matter the situation, and he is the perfect player for this Cubs lineup.

Bringing Tauchman, AKA that Palentine Pounder, back to the Northside would bring a lot of joy to most of this fan base, as he was a fan favorite during his time with the Cubs. Known as a reserve player at best for most of his career, Tauchman did have a breakout campaign with the Yankees in 2019, when he hit a career-best .277 with a career-high 13 homers. Tauchman also added 47 RBIs that season, giving the Yankees a surprising yet much-needed boost.

In the years since, Tauchman has bounced around as he has found it difficult to latch on to a big league club. Leave it to the Cubs to change that: he not only signed with them in 2023 but also re-signed in 2024, making the team in both seasons. During those years on the Northside, Tauchman was the perfect bench player to have on your team, as he not only gave you a professional at bat but, given his versatility in the field, allowed David Ross and Craig Counsell to use him late in games, as they trusted his defense.

In total, Tauchman played in 217 games during his time with the Cubs, and a large chunk of those were starts. He combined to hit .250, slightly above his career .246 mark, while connecting for 15 homers and 77 RBIs. He also walked 103 times and struck out 156 times, as that kind of production alone would be solid had he been an everyday option.

Following the 2024 season, Tauchman was not only a free agent but had a much bigger market than in the past, as he wanted to test the market to see what he could get. The result was an opportunity to stay in Chicago as he signed a one-year deal with the White Sox worth about $2.5 million. From there, his time on the Southside was filled with ups and downs as a series of early-season injuries limited his time on the field.

When available, he continued to do what he does best, as Tauchman hit .263 in 93 games this past season, good for the second-best average of his career. Tauchman also connected for the second-most homers of his career with nine, while the 40 RBIs gave him three seasons of 40 RBIs or more. He found himself on the trade block last season, but for whatever reason, no one pulled the trigger on him, and he went on to finish off another successful campaign.

Now on the market again, Tauchman is looking for a chance to prove himself, although he shouldn't have to at this point in his career. This is a guy who knows his role within an organization, and you could make the case that he is the perfect role player. While his market seems quiet for the moment, that could change as we inch closer to the Spring.

Who knows? Maybe the Cubs are already in talks when it comes to bringing him back. He loved it here, the organization loved him, the fit is there, and, most importantly, he won't cost you a ton of money. Those are all things the Cubs look at in players, and this is one of those moves that makes too much sense to ignore.