The Cubs non-tendered Tauchman on Friday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Tauchman will enter free agency after spending the last two seasons with the Cubs. He missed about a month of the 2024 regular season due to a grade 2 groin strain he suffered in mid-June, and he finished the campaign with a slash line of .248/.357/.366 with six stolen bases, seven home runs and 29 RBI over 350 plate appearances.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Reaches three times in loss
Rotowire
Tauchman went 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Phillies.
With the Cubs eliminated from playoff contention and Ian Happ (back) out of the lineup for the second straight day, Tauchman got another chance to start. The veteran homered Sunday and posted another solid stat line Monday from the leadoff spot. Tauchman could have some short-term fantasy value in the final week of the regular season as Chicago deploys some different lineups, though he figures to revert to a reserve role in 2025, which will push him back off the radar in most formats.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Homers in rare start Sunday
Rotowire
Tauchman went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Nationals.
Tauchman picked up just his third start over the last month, and he made the most of it with a homer to lead off the bottom of the first inning. It was his first long ball since Aug. 4. The veteran outfielder is up to seven homers, six stolen bases, 27 RBI, 50 runs scored and a .249/.355/.370 slash line across 338 plate appearances this season. Tauchman could pick up some extra playing time over the final week if Ian Happ (undisclosed) remains out of action after getting scratched Sunday.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Tallies two hits off bench Saturday
Rotowire
Tauchman, who appeared as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning, went 2-for-2 with two runs scored in Saturday's 14-2 win over the Marlins.
Tauchman made a late appearance in the contest but quickly joined the hit parade, and he recorded his first multi-hit effort since Aug. 4. The veteran outfielder has been squeezed out of a regular role with the emergence of Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field, which has pushed Cody Bellinger to the corners or the DH spot. Tauchman can still produce when he's in the lineup, though fantasy managers shouldn't expect consistent playing time in the near future.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Powers offense Sunday
Rotowire
Tauchman went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Cardinals.
Tauchman made his first start since Monday and saw his first action of any kind since Thursday, when he received one at-bat off the bench. The Cubs seem to be giving youngster Pete Crow-Armstrong more run in center field due to his speed and defensive abilities. With Crow-Armstrong gaining a foothold in the outfield, Cody Bellinger has been logging more time at designated hitter while relegating Tauchman to a reserve role. The 33-year-old's fantasy value takes a hit due to the reduction in playing time.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Idle Thursday
Rotowire
Tauchman isn't in the Cubs' lineup Thursday versus the Cardinals.
Tacuhman is not in the starting lineup for the third consecutive day after he didn't start in Wednesday's 13-4 victory over the Reds. Since returning from the injured list due to a groin injury, the 33-year-old is 4-for-31 in an 11-game span. Cody Bellinger is the designated hitter Thursday with Pete Crow-Armstrong entering the lineup in center field, batting eighth.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Out of lineup again Friday
Rotowire
Tauchman is not in the lineup for Friday's contest against the Cardinals.
All four of Cody Bellinger's starts since he returned from the injured list have come from the designated hitter spot, as the Cubs appear to be protecting the finger injury that sent him to the IL. The result is Tauchman being out of the lineup for four straight games even after he contributed a walk-off RBI double in Thursday's comeback win. Bellinger should eventually return to playing the field, but until that happens, Tauchman will mostly be a bench bat.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: On bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Tauchman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.
With southpaw Nick Lodolo toeing the rubber for the Reds, the lefty-hitting Tauchman will hit the bench Wednesday. Cody Bellinger will get a day out of the outfield and will replace Tauchman as the Cubs' designated hitter.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Not starting Tuesday
Rotowire
Tauchman is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds.
Tauchman had started in eight of the Cubs' last nine games following his return from the injured list July 19, but he slashed just .129/.182/.129 over those contests. He's still holding down a .690 OPS for the season -- 140 points above Pete Crow-Armstrong's .550 mark -- but Tauchman could nonetheless lose out on work to the former player while he's struggling at the plate. Though he's provided little impact with the bat this season, Crow-Armstrong brings elite speed and defense in center field to the table, while Tauchman has typically been relegated to designated hitter or a corner-outfield spot and isn't nearly as prolific in the running game.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Idle vs. lefty
Rotowire
Tauchman is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Royals.
The lefty-hitting Tauchman will begin Sunday's contest on the bench with Kansas City sending southpaw Cole Ragans to the mound. Seiya Suzuki will start in right field and bat third.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Scores twice in win
Rotowire
Tauchman went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Saturday's 9-4 win against the Royals.
Tauchman had gotten off to a slow start since returning from the injured list July 19, going just 2-for-23 across his first seven games back. The outfielder doubled that hit total Saturday, and he should be locked into a fairly regular role moving forward, particularly due to Cody Bellinger (finger) being out at the moment. Bellinger's return in the near future may squeeze Tauchman a bit, though the latter still played often earlier in the season when Bellinger was healthy.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Returns from injured list
Rotowire
The Cubs activated Tauchman (groin) from the 10-day injured list Friday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Tauchman missed a month of action with a strained left groin but has been cleared to return to action after playing in a couple rehab games. His playing-time outlook is a bit cloudy with the Cubs electing to deploy Christopher Morel at designated hitter lately, but in the short term with Cody Bellinger (finger) on the shelf, Tauchman should see at least semi-regular starts versus righties. He won't be in the lineup Friday versus right-hander Ryne Nelson and the Diamondbacks, however.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Cleared for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Tauchman (groin) began a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Monday, starting in right field and going 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
Tauchman is coming up on the one-month mark of his ongoing absence from a left groin strain but has been cleared to play in rehab games. The 33-year-old might not quite be ready to return from the 10-day injured list when the Cubs return to action Friday versus the Diamondbacks, but he shouldn't require too much time to get ramped back up. Once activated, Tauchman should return to seeing regular starts in the outfield or at designated hitter against right-handed pitching.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Diagnosed with Grade 2 groin strain
Rotowire
The Cubs placed Tauchman on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a Grade 2 left groin strain, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The injury is expected to take about four weeks to heal, although it's not clear whether that's a potential return target or when he'll ramp up baseball activities. Either way, Tauchman will be out, at minimum, until after the All-Star break. Cody Bellinger is starting in right field Tuesday and could see more action there while Tauchman is sidelined.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Tweaks groin Monday
Rotowire
Tauchman (groin) left Monday's contest with the Giants in the bottom of the third inning with left groin tightness, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Tauchman hustled down the line to beat out an infield single in the bottom of the third, tweaking his left groin in the process. The 33-year-old will likely undergo imaging Monday night to determine the severity of the injury. Pete Crow-Armstrong would likely see more playing time if Tauchman is out of action for a period.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Leaves early Monday
Rotowire
Tauchman (undisclosed) exited Monday's contest with the Giants in the bottom of the third inning, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Tauchman pulled up lame after legging out a two-out infield single in the bottom of the third, leaving the game after going 1-for-1 with a walk in the contest. He appeared to be grabbing at his left leg, but an exact diagnosis will likely come before the end of Monday's contest. In the meantime, Patrick Wisdom replaced Tauchman in the Cubs' lineup at designated hitter.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Getting day off
Rotowire
Tauchman is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.
He'll cede designated-hitter duties to Seiya Suzuki while the Cubs roll out an outfield of Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cody Bellinger from left to right in the penultimate game of the series. Tauchman's move to the bench comes in the midst of a brief slump at the plate, as he's gone 2-for-18 with two walks over his last five games.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Out against left-hander
Rotowire
Tauchman is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest in Cincinnati.
Tauchman has now been out of the lineup each of the last four times the Cubs have faced a lefty dating back to May 22, and he also was on the bench once versus a righty over that span. Christopher Morel is getting a start at designated hitter while Patrick Wisdom plays third base.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: Delivers walkoff home run
Rotowire
Tauchman went 2-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Wednesday's 7-6 win over the White Sox.
Tauchman provided some heroics, taking Michael Kopech deep in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the fans home happy. The veteran outfielder has provided steady play for the Cubs, and while Chicago has a crowded outfield, Tauchman has been able to see regular playing time as the DH when he's not in the field. As long as he's getting at-bats, the 33-year-old should hold onto some fantasy value.
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Cubs' Mike Tauchman: On bench again
Rotowire
Tauchman is not in the Cubs' lineup Tuesday versus the White Sox.
Tauchman is not in the starting lineup for the second consecutive game, although he did log a pinch-hit appearance in Sunday's game against the Reds. Prior to the two absences from the lineup, the 33-year-old had started in five straight games. Tuesday's lineup also features Seiya Suzuki as the DH, Cody Bellinger in right and Michael Busch at first.
