A month ago, the Minnesota Twins looked like they would have a hole at first base after Carlos Santana signed with the Cleveland Guardians. Jose Miranda, Edouard Julien, and even Willi Castro would have to play a game of musical chairs for the everyday role at first in spring training.
Now, the game of musical chairs has one more participant. On Tuesday, the Twins signed Ty France to a $1 million, non-guaranteed contract. However, the Twins have offered him a 40-man roster spot. Still, it doesn’t guarantee him the $1 million unless he earns a place on the 26-man, Opening Day roster out of camp.
However, France has an advantage with the most career games (530) at first base among the players trying out for the position at camp. The front-runners behind him, Miranda and Julien, have only combined to play 97 games at first in the majors.
But experience is not everything. France had one of his worst seasons in the field, especially after he suffered a right heel fracture in early June, which led to minus-12 outs above average, the lowest among 40 qualifying first basemen in MLB. Last year, Santana led the league with a plus-14 OAA, 26 points higher than France.
In 2021, France had a plus-1 OAA at first base, his only season where he’s had a positive OAA. The Twins signed France to be a bat-first guy, not for his defense, but his offense has regressed since his 2022 All-Star season.
France’s right heel injury likely influenced his production at the plate. He was limited to 33 games in June and July, where he went 17-for-108 (.156 batting average) with a .530 OPS. France had a bit of a resurgence after the Seattle Mariners traded him to the Cincinnati Reds on July 29, posting a .251/.292/.391 triple slash in 52 games.
With his heel injury behind him and going into his age-30 season, the Twins are hoping to recapture who France was in 2022 before the spark completely goes out in his bat. If France can recapture who he was at the plate in 2022 and sharpen his defense in camp, he’ll have a good chance of landing on the Opening Day roster.
Still, the Twins will be down a Gold-Glove first baseman regardless of if France makes the team. Fortunately, Miranda’s defense at first is much sharper than how he has been at third. Miranda had 0 OAA in 100 ⅓ innings at first in 2024, which was much better than the minus-7 OAA at third. Julien only clocked in one game with two innings at first base in 2024, too low to qualify for OAA at the position.
If Miranda and France end up platooning at first base to start the season, France and Julien would split time as the righty and lefty platoon in the DH spot. Julien will need to get more reps in at first base, but the Twins have all of spring training to prepare him.
Mickey Gasper is the only other player on Minnesota’s 40-man who has played first base regularly. Gasper has clocked in over 1,500 innings in 224 minor league games at first base with only 23 errors. He only played one game in his 13-game stint with the Boston Red Sox.
By adding France, Gasper is likely in a similar spot as the non-roster invitees. Mike Ford, Alex Isola, and Yunior Severino have long shots of breaking out of camp with the team. Isola and Severino haven’t made their MLB debuts. Ford only hit .150 in 17 games with the Reds. They released him, and he finished the year in Japan.
At least with France, the Twins have a player who’s played 140 games or more over the last four seasons. His numbers in the field and at the plate have not been as consistent as some fans would like over that time. Still, France’s track record in the majors warrants him another opportunity to play full-time.
Having one veteran bat be a placeholder while Julien and Miranda develop into the position to get more longevity out of their careers. But if France doesn’t work out, the Twins may not have a dedicated first baseman next season.
