Fernando Tatis Jr. didn’t hide how he feels about the idea of the Padres moving Ty France before the trade deadline.
San Diego’s offense has struggled for much of the 2026 season, and that has helped drag the club down after a fast start. With the Aug. 3 deadline approaching, the Padres still have a chance to add, but sitting four games behind the final National League wild-card spot has also opened the door to the possibility that they could sell instead.
If that happens, France would be one of the names drawing interest. The veteran infielder has been the Padres’ most reliable bat all year, turning a minor league deal signed over the offseason into a breakout run the front office probably didn’t see coming. He has hit .279 with 16 home runs and 43 RBIs, along with an .883 OPS.
Tatis made it clear that losing him would sting.
“It’s a terrible part of the game, but it’s part of the game,” Tatis said of a potential France trade. “He has been carrying us offensively.
He’s probably been the best offensive player on our team. So it would be a shame if he’s leaving home because he’s playing too good.”
That kind of production is exactly why France would make sense as a trade chip if San Diego decides it can’t make a run. He is set to hit free agency after the season, so the Padres would have to weigh the value of keeping his bat for a push against the chance to bring back future assets.
France’s presence has mattered beyond the box score, too. He has settled in well since returning to San Diego and has been vocal about how much the opportunity means to him.
“It’s great to be back here. Like I said earlier, you envision yourself playing for one team your entire career and, you know, we’re back," France said.
"To be able to help the group - this is such a talented roster and such a good team - to be able to contribute, it means a lot. And I’m gonna continue to fight and do what I can to help.”
For now, France is stuck in the same waiting game as plenty of players on the roster. Whether he stays in San Diego or gets dealt will come down to what the front office thinks it can get for him, and how the Padres perform over the next few series.
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