Free Agent Profile: Ty France, 1B

Ty France

Position: 1B B/T: R/R
Player Data: Age: 31 (07/13/1994)

2025 Traditional Stats: 138 G, 544 PA, .257/.320/.360/.681, 114 H, 7 HR, 52 RBI
2025 Advanced Stats: wRC+, 16.9 K%, 4.5 BB%, .333 BABIP, . xwOBA, 0.9 fWAR

Rundown

In his first press conference after the regular season ended president of baseball operations, David Stearns, made a point to mention how run prevention will be one of the organization’s main focusses in the offseason. First baseman Ty France would address this need immediately. France posted a monster plus-nine defensive runs saved (DRS) and plus-10 outs above average (OAA) at first base. These two numbers rivaled only Matt Olson as the best among first baseman this season. As a result, he captured his first career Gold Glove in the American League.

Offensively, however, it has been a different story for the 31-year-old. Since a run from 2020 through 2022, it has been a struggle and the reason why France has bounced around between several teams. Since 2024, France has played for Seattle, Cincinnati, Minnesota, and Toronto. The highest OPS he has had since his All-Star 2022 season was a .703 mark in 2023. In 2025, despite the strong defensive year, he still had a sub-.700 OPS at .681 to go along with only seven home runs across 444 at-bats.

Some of the encouraging aspects of France’s offensive game is his ability to hit both left-handed and right-handed pitching pretty evenly. He has a career .731 OPS against righties and a .743 OPS against lefties. Additionally, his offensive analytics in 2025 were as strong as they’ve been in a while.

Both his wxOBA and xBA were above the 59th percentile. Additionally, his whiff and stakeout rates were above the 70th percentile. If the offensive numbers can slightly regress closer to these expected figures, while keeping up the elite defense, he can be a valuable piece in 2025.

As alluded above, France played for multiple clubs in 2025. He signed a deal with the Minnesota Twins in the offseason, and after being traded to Toronto in July, played 37 regular games for the Blue Jays to end the season. France then played in two games in the postseason for Toronto, going 1-for-4.

Contract

France originally signed a one-year deal worth $1 million that was non-guaranteed with the Minnesota Twins in the offseason. Given his Gold Glove season and performances with the American League champion Blue Jays, a pay day is certainly on the horizon. However, given his age and track record that leaves a lot to be desired, bringing in France would not break the bank my any means.

Recommendation: Worth Checking In

The addition of Ty France would by no means fix the Mets’ first base woes if Pete Alonso were to walk in free agency. France should only be looked upon as one piece of the first-base puzzle in 2026. A cheaper price tag would allow New York to either sign a more established offensive platoon piece at first base, or even retain Alonso, all while brining in France to give the Mets a defensive jolt at first base. Something they desperately need.

Last year, at first base, Alonso gave the Mets a negative-nine DRS, negative-nine OAA, and negative-eight fielding run value. Playing France at first sporadically, and giving Alonso time as the designated hitter, if he would returns, would immediately boost the team’s overall defense a boost. For this reason, France should be considered regardless of what happens with Alonso.

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