Former Seattle Mariners first baseman Ty France has found a new home at the start of spring training.

San Diego Padres reporter Dennis Lin says that France has signed a minor league deal with the Padres, meaning that he'll be directly across from the Mariners at the Peoria Sports Complex.

The M's and Padres open up Cactus League play against each other on Friday afternoon in Peoria. It's unclear if France will be ready to play in a game by that point.

Originally a 34th-round draft pick of the Padres out of San Diego State, this is a homecoming for France in more ways than one. 

Now 31 years old, France is a seven-year veteran of the Padres, Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays. He made his major league debut with San Diego in 2019 but was traded to the Mariners in the COVID 2020 season alongside Andres Munoz, Luis Torrens and Taylor Trammell.

A key part of the M's organizational rebirth, France was with Seattle from 2020 until being let go in 2024. He hit .266 over parts of five seasons, also popping 60 home runs.

He was an All-Star in 2022 and helped the M's break the playoff drought that same season. Unfortunately, his offense regressed as his time went on. He hit .291 in 2021, .274 in 2022, .250 in 2023 and just .223 before being let go in 2024. His power also dipped.

Always a ball magnet, France was hit by a league-leading 27 pitches in 2021 and 34 in 2023.

He helped the Blue Jays get to the World Series in 2025 after a trade from the Minnesota Twins. He won a Gold Glove for his work at first base.

--France is not the only former M's star to sign in San Diego. Left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales did as well. He's on a minor league deal too.

--Top prospect Ryan Sloan impressed in his first live bullpen of spring training on Sunday, fanning Randy Arozarena in hilarious fashion.

--Former Mariners and current St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Chip Cary joined the 'Refuse to Lose' podcast last week and continued to hype up Brendan Donovan, who was just acquired by the Mariners before spring training.

--Brady Farkas will be live at M's spring training this week for Roundtable Sports. Follow him @RefuseToLose pod as he's there from Thursday-Monday.

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