Since winning the National League pennant in 2023, the Arizona Diamondbacks have proven that they can still be a winning team, but it has not been enough to help them reach the playoffs in the increasingly competitive National League landscape. 

The Diamondbacks finished with an 86-76 record in 2026, their second time in the last three seasons with a winning record, but they were pushed out of the NL Wild Card picture at season's end. 

After packing it up for the fall and winter months, Arizona gave manager Torey Lovullo a two-year contract extension that put him on the same timeline as general manager Mike Hazen. 

Both are at a decade-plus with the organization in their respective positions, but playoff appearances have been hard to come by.

Arizona could use left-handed hitters and bullpen help, but they also clearly need a first baseman. Hazen and his front office will have plenty of decisions to make as the offseason progresses, and there is a chance that they will be constrained by the desires of owner Ken Kendrick to trim payroll. 

Still, even with those constraints, the Diamondbacks should still have some options to fill first base. One such option is Ty France.

As it stands, first base is Arizona's most vulnerable infield position. 

The team recently released Pavin Smith, and rookie LuJames Groover has a long way to go. Bringing in an experienced player such as France would not only inject production into a position of weakness, but it is possible that it could be done at a friendly price point. 

According to recent contract projections for free agents by ESPN MLB Insider Kiley McDaniel, the outlook for France's next contract is neither expensive nor long-term. 

McDaniel projects that France will receive a one-year, $13 million contract. For what he can provide, that is a very solid deal. 

Sure, as a right-handed hitter, France does not address the aforementioned need for left-handed hitting, but as a member of the San Diego Padres last season, he was incredibly productive against right-handed pitching. 

Against righties, France took a total of 322 at-bats over the course of 118 games last season and posted a .298 batting average, a .360 on-base percentage, a .509 slugging percentage and an .869 OPS with 16 home runs and 53 RBIs. 

Those marks are significantly better than what the Diamondbacks were able to achieve against right-handers in 2026, when they hit just .235 and logged a .697 OPS against those opposing arms.

Overall, France's 2026 campaign was one of the best of his eight-year Major League Baseball career. Over 133 games and 440 at-bats, France posted a .295 batting average, a .363 on-base percentage, a .502 slugging percentage and an .865 OPS with a career-high 21 home runs. 

France's projected deal makes him look like a rental, but maybe that is all Arizona needs. If France can carry his numbers over from last season, he would address two areas of need for the organization at a price that Kendrick might be comfortable signing off on.