It’s understandable why Mike Tauchman would pursue the financial incentives offered to him. After being traded from the Yankees to the San Francisco Giants in 2021 for reliever Wandy Peralta and subsequently struggling with the Giants, Tauchman found the $1 million contract from the Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization to be his best option.
Having secured that deal last season, Tauchman is now making a return to Major League Baseball, on the brink of securing a spot on the rebuilding Chicago Cubs roster.
As noted by the Chicago Tribune, “Tauchman, who joined the Cubs as a non-roster invitee, has earned a spot on the opening-day roster. His ability to cover all three outfield positions and add another left-handed bat is valuable.” At 32 years old, Tauchman has posted a .318 batting average over 11 spring training games.
Initially, Tauchman made his mark with the Colorado Rockies before being traded to the Yankees ahead of the 2019 season. There, he had a remarkable breakout year, hitting .277 with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs in 87 games. Yankees fans admired Tauchman for his defensive prowess, characterized by dramatic wall collisions, diving catches, and swift base running reminiscent of a tight end.
However, his performance declined, and with the Yankees’ outfield depth, he was traded to the Giants, where he struggled offensively. Hitting .178 in 64 games for San Francisco, Tauchman became a free agent in October 2021 and signed with Korea.
In his major league career, Tauchman has a .231 average, with 17 home runs and a .704 OPS over 257 games.