The late-night/early-morning spot for Cubs fans asks if Mike Tauchman should be back with the 2025 team.
Welcome back to BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. If you’re looking for shelter in the storm, we’re here for you. We still have a few tables available. There’s no cover charge. Let us know if we can do anything for you. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Just a quick reminder: this is a no-politics zone. Everyone is welcome and we’re here because we don’t want to hear about the election right now.
Last night I asked you if you thought the Cubs would sign a free agent for a contract over $100 million. The vote was very close, but by a margin of 52 percent to 48, you predicted they would.
On Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I don’t normally do any movie talk. But I always have time for jazz, so those of you who skip that can do so now. You won’t hurt my feelings.
We continue our tribute to Quincy Jones, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 91. Here’s perhaps his most famous tune these days, thanks to its use in the Austin Powers films. This is “Soul Bossa Nova.”
Welcome back to those who skip all that jazz.
The Cubs signed outfielder Mike Tauchman to a minor league deal in January of 2023 and few minor league deals have worked out better. Tauchman started the 2023 season in Iowa, but got promoted to the majors in mid-May and he’s proven himself to be a quality fourth outfielder over that time. He was better in 2023 than he was in 2024, but
But with Cody Bellinger deciding to not opt out of his contract, the Cubs outfield is crowded. Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Bellinger are locked in to the starting spots and another outfielder, Seiya Suzuki, is going to be the designated hitter. There are also some young kids—Alexander Canario (coming off an injury) and Kevin Alcántara who are looking for playing time. Both Canario and Alcántara can play center field. That’s not even mentioning prospect Owen Caissie, who will have to be added to the 40-man roster.
So there are a lot of outfielders.
So is there room for Tauchman on the Cubs in 2025? Tauchman is arbitration-eligible, and the Cubs could non-tender him to save some money. However, in this article by Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic sub. req.), they write that at an estimated $2.9 million deal for 2025, it’s “straightforward decision” to offer Tauchman a contract because he should be easily tradable with that deal.
So should the Cubs bring back Tauchman for the 2025 season, or should they non-tender or trade him before the season starts? Good players don’t grow on trees, but the Cubs already have a lot of trees in that outfield and maybe it’s time to move on.
I’m phrasing this as the “start” of the 2025 season because obviously, if Tauchman is on the Opening Day roster and stinks for a month, he’s going to get released. That’s true of pretty much any player who isn’t an established regular. But if you vote “yes,” you’re thinking that Tauchman is worth keeping around through the end of Spring Training.
Thank you for stopping by this evening. I know that you have a lot of choices in fake, online nightclubs, but we’re glad you chose us. Please get home safely. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow night for more BCB After Dark.