A NY Mets spring training participation trophy isn’t good enough for Mike Tauchman

Andres Galaragga. Bret Boone. Luke Voit. They’re three guys who came into New York Mets spring training and didn’t earn a job. Mike Tauchman sounds determined to join a different list of players.

In an interview with NJ.com’s Max Goodman, Tauchman talked about why he chose the Mets. His takeaway was that the Mets will actually give him a chance to make the club out of camp.

“I like the opportunity. 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.”

Tauchman makes too much sense for the Mets even with Carson Benge on the team. The Mets don’t have an experienced bat off the bench. The projected bench for the start of the season would include Luis Torrens, Tyrone Taylor, plus two more spots. One would conceivably go to Brett Baty or Mark Vientos depending on who isn’t starting. The other could go to Tauchman.

The Mets shouldn’t dismiss the idea of carrying Mike Tauchman on the Opening Day roster regardless of what Carson Benge does

Tauchman and Benge can co-exist. When all are healthy, you forgo the idea of carrying someone like Vidal Brujan on your roster. He’d play sparingly anyway. Your bench becomes a little more offense-focused. Baty is your best card to pull as a backup infielder with Bo Bichette as the shortstop alternative for Francisco Lindor.

Health questions about Lindor do complicate things. If the Mets aren’t interested in moving Bichette back to shortstop, Tauchman’s chances at making the Mets are less likely. Whether he has an opt-out in his contract or not could be a factor here.

The Mets face some similar yet less complicated questions with Craig Kimbrel. Another veteran signed to a minor league deal, he’s vrying for one of two bullpen spots. The Mets can send down Huascar Brazoban or maybe DFA Bryan Hudson if they aren’t determined to have two lefties begin the season on the roster.

A lot of these early spring roster questions come down to health. Getting to Opening Day unscathed is as difficult as it would be to go 162-0. The Mets are already taking it easy with several players, limiting playing time for Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr., and Francisco Alvarez.

Tauchman hasn’t been a poor defender. His on-base skills have been underrated in recent seasons. In a lot of scenarios, he’d be a virtual lock to make the Mets roster. They just didn’t clear out some of those fringe spots on the team. The most complicated part might be a little bit of the redundancy Tauchman brings as a left-handed hitter alongside Baty and Benge.

Oddly, Juan Soto’s participation in the WBC might be Tauchman’s ticket to the Opening Day roster. The Mets will have more of an opening in left field for the duration of spring training action. It would make little sense to have Baty or Benge there regularly as Soto is going to get the majority of the playing time. Tauchman becomes the top choice.

A far cheaper and well-rounded version of what the Mets wanted from Jesse Winker last year and never received, Tauchman is one of the most fascinating players the Mets sent out an RSVP to attend camp this year.