After playing for four teams and posting replacement-level production from 2024-25, first baseman Ty France had to settle for a minor league contract last February. The California native and former San Diego State standout rejoined the Padres, who stole him in the 34th round of the 2015 draft. France made his major league debut with the Padres four years later, but he exited the organization in a seven-player trade with the Mariners in August 2020.

France’s return to the Padres six years after they shipped him out couldn’t have worked out much better for either side. He wasn’t guaranteed anything going into the spring, but he earned a spot on the Padres’ Opening Day roster and performed far too well to relinquish it. Over 133 games and 500 plate appearances, the righty-swinging France slashed .295/.363/.502 with a career-high 21 home runs. France’s 141 wRC+ ranked 10th among hitters with at least 450 PA, putting him in company with the likes of Junior Caminero, James Wood, Elly De La Cruz and Shohei Ohtani.

As MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk explained last weekend, France’s presence played a key role in a playoff campaign for the Padres. While San Diego’s offense took a while to get going, France was a consistent force. He led the team in wRC+ and never registered an OPS lower than .804 in an individual month. France did record a sub-.800 OPS over six playoff games, but at .764, he hardly looked lost. His 7-of-22, homer-less showing would have improved significantly had a tough-luck outcome in Game 1 of the NLDS gone the other way.

As the Padres trailed the Brewers, 3-2, with one out in the top of the ninth inning, France hit a fly ball that struck a roof cable at Milwaukee’s American Family Field. Instead of potentially leaving the yard for a go-ahead, two-run homer, it landed in left fielder Jackson Chourio’s glove. The Brewers went on to win that game, and they closed out the hotly contested series in four on Wednesday.

Although the season ended in disappointment for France, his stock is much higher than it was a year ago. France is nearing another trip to free agency, but if the 32-year-old has his way, he will continue his career in San Diego.

“I love this place. I don’t know what the offseason’s going to look like or what’s in store,” he said (via Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune). “But I’ve said it since spring training: This is where I want to be. My heart’s in San Diego.”

For their part, the Padres have interest in re-signing France, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports. Whether that happens or he goes elsewhere, France should easily outearn the $1.35MM he collected in 2026. However, it probably wouldn’t be fair to expect an offensive repeat next season. A fortunate .342 batting average on balls in play boosted France’s numbers, and he was only around middle of the pack in expected batting average and expected weighted on-base average (.327, 46 points below his .373 wOBA). France’s 21.6% strikeout rate checked in a little better than the league mean, but he drew free passes at a slightly below-average clip (7.4%).

None of that is to suggest France will fall off a cliff, though, as the one-time All-Star has typically held his own at the plate. He’s a lifetime .267/.338/.414 hitter over 3,809 PA at the game’s highest level. France has logged almost identical production against righties (115 wRC+) and lefties (114 wRC+). That adds to his appeal, as does the defensive prowess he has shown at first base over the past couple of seasons.

France garnered negative reviews at the cold corner from 2023-24, including minus-14 Defensive Runs Saved, but has turned it around since then. He has been credited with 24 DRS, 17 Outs Above Average and 15 Fielding Run Value since 2025. France won a Gold Glove last year and tied for fifth at his position this season in DRS (15). He also ranked in the league’s 93rd percentile in OAA (8).

While the well-rounded France made it clear that he wants to re-sign with the Padres, he acknowledged (via Lin) that “it’s a business.” If he does reach the market, France will be one of the top first basemen available in an underwhelming class.

Photo courtesy of Denis Poroy, Imagn Images (via Reuters Connect)