The Minnesota Twins should look to add a first baseman this offseason. Royce Lewis eventually became Minnesota's primary first baseman this year, but his performance issues make it necessary to add competition, even if Minnesota plans to keep Lewis. Victor Caratini can also play first base, but he will likely take over as the starting catcher, as Ryan Jeffers is likely to walk in free agency.
One first baseman the Twins should consider targeting is Ty France, who played for the Twins last season. France signed a one-year contract with Minnesota after the 2024 season. He didn't perform well offensively for the Twins, posting a .678 OPS over 101 games before Minnesota traded him and right-hander Louis Varland to the Toronto Blue Jays at the deadline. Minnesota received left-hander Kendry Rojas and outfielder Alan Roden in the trade.
In 103 plate appearances with Toronto last season, France, 32, had a .693 OPS. He went 1-for-4 for the Blue Jays in the playoffs.
Because he struggled with the Twins and Blue Jays, France had to settle for a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres this past offseason. France made the team out of spring training and, surprisingly, became one of the club's best players.
Ex-Twin Ty France was one of Padres' best players in 2026
This year, France ranked fourth among the Padres in FanGraphs WAR (3.6). Only Fernando Tatis Jr. (5.4), Jackson Merrill (4.2) and Mason Miller (3.7) accumulated more WAR.
The Padres had a great season with France holding down first base, winning 91 games and the National League Wild Card Series over the Chicago Cubs.
During the regular season, France slashed .295/.363/.502 with 21 home runs and 72 RBI over 133 games. He went 7-for-22 in the playoffs.
France also performed exceptionally defensively this season, posting +15 Defensive Runs Saved and +7 Outs Above Average in 1,030 1/3 innings at first base. In 2025, he posted +9 DRS and +10 OAA.
So even if France regresses offensively, he should at least provide strong defense. The Twins shouldn't sign France to an enormous deal for several years, but if they can land him on an affordable one- or two-year contract, Jeremy Zoll should sign the first baseman. France figured something out at the plate with San Diego this year, and the Twins should be interested in his services at first base, a position that hasn't produced much for Minnesota over the past several years.
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