Gold Glove Glove, Bargain Bat: Ty France Drawing Interest from Multiple Contenders
Ty France might not have lit up the stat sheet with his bat in 2025, but his glove did plenty of talking-and teams around the league are listening. After signing a modest one-year, $1 million deal with the Minnesota Twins last offseason, France turned in a season that proved you don’t need to mash 30 homers to make a real impact.
Let’s start with the defense, because that’s where France made his biggest mark. He led all American League first basemen in Outs Above Average with +10 and capped off his breakout defensive campaign by taking home the AL Gold Glove.
That’s a massive leap for a player who entered the year with a career fielding run value of -15 and finished 2025 at +7. That kind of defensive turnaround doesn’t just happen-it’s the product of work, instincts, and positioning.
And at a position where defense is often overlooked in favor of power, France flipped the script.
Offensively, it was a quieter year. Across 138 games split between the Twins and Blue Jays, France slashed .257/.320/.360 with seven home runs and 52 RBIs in 490 plate appearances.
That’s good for an 88 OPS+, making him a below-average hitter by league standards. But context matters.
With runners in scoring position, France has quietly been a clutch performer over the course of his career, hitting .302/.369/.438 with 17 homers and 269 RBIs in 803 plate appearances. That’s not just timely hitting-it’s the kind of production that keeps innings alive and drives in runs when it matters most.
France also played a role in a midseason trade that helped the Twins reshape their roster. On July 31, Minnesota sent righty reliever Louis Varland to the Blue Jays in a deal that included France and brought back outfielder Alan Roden and left-handed pitching prospect Kendry Rojas. It was a savvy move that turned a low-cost veteran into future upside.
Now, as free agency heats up, France is drawing interest from multiple clubs looking to shore up their infield depth and defensive reliability. According to reports, the Yankees, Mets, Padres, and Diamondbacks are all in the mix for the 29-year-old right-handed hitter.
The Yankees are currently penciling in lefty Ben Rice as their starting first baseman, but France could provide a right-handed complement, especially if Rice shifts behind the plate or needs a day off. Over in Queens, the Mets are expected to start former Twin Jorge Polanco at first, but France could slot in as a bench bat or late-inning defensive upgrade.
The clearest path to playing time might come out west. The Padres, who are flush with left-handed infielders-Jake Cronenworth, Sung Mun Song, Will Wagner, and Gavin Sheets-could use France to balance out their lineup.
San Diego also has a vacancy at designated hitter, which could give France more opportunities to stay in the lineup. The Diamondbacks find themselves in a similar spot.
First baseman Pavin Smith has struggled mightily against lefties, and Arizona’s DH slot remains open.
France’s career splits are nearly even against righties and lefties, which adds to his appeal as a plug-and-play option. He’s not going to anchor a lineup, but he’s the kind of player who can quietly make a roster better-especially for a team looking to tighten up its defense and add a steady veteran presence.
At this stage in the offseason, France isn’t a headline-grabber-but he’s exactly the kind of under-the-radar signing that can pay dividends in September. Whether it’s as a glove-first first baseman, a right-handed bat off the bench, or a veteran with postseason experience, France has value. And after a season where he proved his worth with the glove, don’t be surprised if he finds himself in another playoff hunt come October.