Mets Add Even More Former Yankees Ahead Of First Spring Training Game

The New York Mets have more former Yankees on their roster amongst all levels compared to every other team that are not the Yankees themselves.

Sunday saw the Mets add Ben Rortvedt off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Rortvedt is graded as an above average catcher in terms of blocking and framing pitches, but he has a below average arm when trying to throw out base runners. Rortvedt will be the team’s third-string catcher behind Francisco Alvarez and highly-regarded defender Luis Torrens. 

Rortvedt was part of the March 13th trade in 2022, which sent him, Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the New York Yankees in exchange for Gio Urshela and Gary Sanchez. Suffering multiple injuries and setbacks with multiple surgeries, Rortvedt only saw 32 games for the Yankees where he hit at a .118 clip.

Monday would then see the New York Mets and OF Mike Tauchman agree to a minor deal with a non-roster invite to spring training. Tauchman found his landing spot and overall he is known for breaking out of camp. With Juan Soto and Luis Robert Jr., slotted in the outfield and MJ Melendez still having a minor league option, can possibly give Tauchman an opportunity to the Mets right field slot.

Tauchman, who is now 35, was traded to the Yankees in March of 2019 and made New York’s opening day roster. He would remain on the Yankees till April of 2021, where he was then traded to the Giants. In 141 games with New York, Tauchman notched 13 home runs and 61 RBIs, while batting on a .266 clip. He was uncontested in stolen bases, swiping 14 without being caught. All of Tauchman’s home runs and 72-out-of-98 hits as a Yankee came in 2019.

Subscribe to our YouTube (IT’S FREE) here.