Ty France is drawing interest on the free agent market, and it’s not hard to see why-especially if you’re a team looking for a steady glove at first base and a right-handed bat who can hold his own against any pitcher. The Diamondbacks, Mets, Padres, and Yankees have all reportedly checked in on the 31-year-old, who’s coming off a 2025 season that saw him win his first career Gold Glove.
France’s defensive turnaround has been one of the more intriguing developments among free agent position players. Just a couple of years ago, public metrics painted a bleak picture of his work at first base.
But in 2025, he flipped the narrative in a big way. Over nearly 1,000 innings at first, France posted +10 Outs Above Average and +9 Defensive Runs Saved-elite numbers that earned him that Gold Glove hardware.
For teams looking to shore up their infield defense without sacrificing too much at the plate, that kind of leap is hard to ignore.
Offensively, though, France hasn’t quite recaptured the form he showed earlier in his career. From 2020 to 2022, he was a consistent producer, slashing .285/.355/.443 with a 129 wRC+ over nearly 1,500 plate appearances.
But that production has dipped in recent seasons. His 2023 campaign saw a drop to a 106 wRC+, and over the last two years, that number has slipped further to 93.
He still makes contact at an above-average rate, but the quality of that contact has been pedestrian, and he’s never been one to draw a ton of walks. Last season, he hit .257/.320/.360 with just seven home runs across 490 plate appearances split between Minnesota and Toronto.
Still, there’s value in what France brings. He’s a right-handed hitter with no real platoon split-his numbers against lefties and righties are remarkably even over his career. That makes him a flexible piece for teams looking to round out their roster with a dependable bat who won’t need to be sheltered from certain matchups.
Let’s take a closer look at how he might fit with the clubs reportedly interested:
Yankees:
New York has Ben Rice penciled in as the starting first baseman, and Giancarlo Stanton is locked into the DH role.
That doesn’t leave a ton of room for France, though there’s a path to part-time work when Rice slides behind the plate. In this scenario, France would be a depth piece-valuable, but likely limited in opportunities unless injuries or slumps open the door.
Mets:
Across town, the Mets are planning to use Jorge Polanco at first base, despite the fact that he’s played just one game at the position in the big leagues.
That’s where France could provide real insurance. With Mark Vientos and Brett Baty also in the DH mix or rotating through the field, France could give the Mets a more natural first-base option-especially on days when Polanco shifts elsewhere or gets a breather.
His experience alone could be a stabilizing factor for a team trying to juggle multiple moving parts.
Diamondbacks:
Arizona might offer the clearest path to playing time.
Lefty Pavin Smith is expected to handle most of the first base duties, but a platoon setup makes sense-and the D-backs have a DH spot that’s still up for grabs. France wouldn’t just be a bench bat here; he could see regular at-bats, especially against left-handed pitching.
The D-backs have also been linked to veterans like Paul Goldschmidt and Carlos Santana, so France fits the profile of what they’re looking for: a first baseman who can contribute right away.
Padres:
Then there’s San Diego-a potential reunion that would bring France back to where it all started.
A Southern California native and former San Diego State standout, France was drafted by the Padres in the 34th round back in 2015. He made his MLB debut with the Friars and spent parts of two seasons in San Diego before being dealt to Seattle in a seven-player trade at the 2020 deadline.
Now, the Padres are sorting through a crowded and largely left-handed infield. Jake Cronenworth, Sung Mun Song, Will Wagner, and Gavin Sheets are all lefty bats, and there’s no clear everyday DH.
Sheets is currently projected to start at first, with Cronenworth in line for DH duties and Song expected to bounce around. But Song, a KBO veteran entering his first MLB season, is dealing with an oblique injury that could delay his debut.
That opens the door for someone like France to come in and offer both experience and balance from the right side.
Bottom line: Ty France isn’t a splashy name, but he’s a proven big leaguer who just put together an elite defensive season and still has enough offensive upside to contribute in the right role. Whether it’s as a platoon bat, a defensive upgrade, or a steady veteran presence, there’s a place for him on a roster-maybe even a few.