Despite a solid 2025 campaign, the White Sox non-tendered outfielder Mike Tauchman.
Tauchman was one of three players to be non-tendered by the White Sox, joining left-handed reliever Cam Booser and first baseman Tim Elko. Instead, the team agreed to terms on a one-year contract with outfielder Derek Hill for $900,000.
The White Sox claimed Hill off waivers from the Marlins in September. The 29-year-old has appeared in 218 games across six MLB seasons, owning a career .229/.277/.347 slash line.
The decision to non-tender Tauchman was a curious one for several reasons. White Sox general manager Chris Getz said that adding corner outfield help was a priority this offseason, and Tauchman was coming off a season that saw him post the second-highest WRC+ of his career with a 115 mark, 15% better than league average at the plate.
The White Sox signed the 34-year-old outfielder to a one-year deal worth $1.95 million last offseason and got their money’s worth after the Palatine native slashed .263/.356/.400 with eight homers and 39 RBIs across 93 games.
Tauchman also brought significant value to a young White Sox roster. He has proven himself as a reliable role player on contending teams, consistently works quality at-bats, and provides steady outfield defense. Off the field, he was nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award in recognition of his community involvement, philanthropy, and exemplary character.
However, there were injury concerns with the Bradley alumni that may have factored into the decision.
Despite spending much of the season in a platoon role, Tauchman was hampered by injuries. On March 27th, he landed on the 10-day IL with a right hamstring strain. In April, he reinjured the same hamstring in a 3-2 loss at Cleveland, pulling up lame while attempting to score the tying run before being tagged out at the plate. That resulted in another lengthy IL stint that kept him out of the lineup until late May.
After the season, he underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, but was not expected to have any significant setbacks this offseason. The move could signal that Getz would like to give his new trade acquisition, Everson Pereira more of an extended look in right field.
As for Booser and Elko, the moves did not come as much of a surprise.
Elko’s future with the White Sox was in jeopardy when he underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, the same knee he injured during his college career at Ole Miss in 2021.
Since getting drafted, Elko has performed well in the minor leagues, hitting .289 with 77 homers and 265 RBIs across four seasons. The 26-year-old finally made his MLB debut on March 10th. But despite the White Sox having a hole at first base, Elko struggled to stick in the major leagues.
He appeared in just 23 games, slashing .134/.194/.328 with four homers and eight RBIs during the limited sample size. After the surgery, he was looking at an eight-month recovery time.
Booser posted a 5.52 ERA in 31 innings this past season. He appeared in 39 games for the White Sox but also pitched in 16 games in Triple-A Charlotte, where he owned a 7.36 ERA in 14.2 innings of work.
