The pros and cons of the Twins signing Ty France

The Minnesota Twins continued their late offseason push in free agency Tuesday by adding first baseman Ty France. How much could he help them in 2025?

Hampered by a fractured right heel in June, France in 2024 hit .234/.305/.365 with 13 home runs, 24 doubles and 38 walks in 535 plate appearances combined for the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds. His overall results fell about 5-10 percent below major league average, and he compared even less favorably among first basemen exclusively.

And speaking of defense, France might have been the worst at first in MLB.

A number of outcomes are possible for France in '25. Let's examine the pros and cons of the Twins bringing him aboard.

PRO:

France, for one season, won't cost much in salary — just $1 million, or about 50 percent less than the league's median salary in 2024. Further, his payday is 100 percent dependent on making the team. If the Twins cut him in Fort Myers, it only cost them spring training expenses.

CON:

Because he signed a major league contract, France already has cost the team another player on the 40-man roster — left-hander Brent Headrick. He was lost on waivers to the New York Yankees just before the France announcement.

While his talent hadn't yielded strong results in the majors yet, Headrick had 332 strikeouts and 247 hits allowed in 269 1/3 minor-league innings, with 57 starts among them. The recent signing of left-hander Danny Coulombe probably reduced Hendrick's chances of making the team out of spring training from slim to none.

Let’s compare the rest of his career and that of right-hander Michael Tonkin and check back later.

PRO:

France from 2020-2023 ranked 11th among all first basemen with 121 wRC+ at Fangraphs -- and ahead of sluggers like Max Muncy and Christian Walker. France was 12th in fWAR at first base in that span.

CON:

Over the same period, France ranked 32nd among first basemen on defense as measured at Fangraphs. Even if his health is better in 2025, nobody should expect him to make an impact in the field like Carlos Santana did in 2024, when he won a Gold Glove for the Twins. 

PRO:

France made the AL All-Star team in 2022 and, from 2020-2022, hit about 30 percent better than league average. In that span over 1,418 plate appearances, he struck out just 237 times. Former M’s manager Scott Servais raved about France’s contact skills in general.

CON:

From the time of his All-Star selection in '22 ‘til the M's designated him for assignment in July 2024, France batted .239/.320/.367 over 307 games. He hit even worse in 52 games for the Reds to close the '24 season.

PRO:

Before the Mariners placed France on the injured list because of his heel, he was finding his stroke at the plate. In 27 games, he batted .267/.365/.500 with six doubles, five homers, 10 walks and 18 RBIs.

CON:

While the heel issue was his most serious injury since becoming an everyday player, other ailments have dogged France, notably periodic wrist pain.  

PRO:

While injuries have appeared to dampen his production, France has made a habit of avoiding them as excuses. He also hasn't missed an inordinate amount of time to the injured list; France has played in 590 of a possible 648 games since the start of 2021.  

CON:

At least superficially, France's game closely resembles that of a player the Twins already had on their roster, Jose Miranda. Both are right-handed power hitters. Neither have a lot of speed or make a lot of plays on defense. As long as his back was healed, Miranda probably would have been OK enough to play most of the time at first base.

It's just, given the payroll limitations imposed by the lame-duck Pohlad family ownership, the roster spot could be better used on another position.

Here’s what ZIPS says about both for 2025:

Pretty similar.

PRO:

Rocco Baldell theoretically could make numerous lineups that include France and Miranda and it would be just fine. Miranda could play third base when Royce Lewis does not. The DH spot could also swing open for Miranda (or multiple others). There's room at the inn. 

CON:

It's unwise to project that a player is going to get healthier in their 30s. France has a penchant for getting hit by pitches (105 times in all), having led the league twice. Hey, it’s a free base! But his aggressive and fearless style leaves France vulnerable to additional injuries and the consequences therein.

PRO:

France still is just 30 years old. His injury concerns aren't to body parts like shoulders, knees or his back. He seemed to finally get over his wrist trouble, along with the slumps that coincided, at the beginning of '24.

He also had a great reputation as a clubhouse guy with the Mariners; a well-liked and respected leader. The fans adored him, too (until he stopped hitting anyway). The team utilized him for giveaways like "Ty Dye Ty France" t-shirt night. If the Twins get a player who helps them enough to warrant a gimmick like that, it's going to be $1 million well-invested.