Ty France Opens Up On Impending Free Agency

The San Diego Padres were eliminated by the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS in four games. 

Now, plenty of questions are going to be asked this offseason. 

A lot went wrong in the NLDS loss, and the lack of offense is a big reason why San Diego couldn't advance to the NLCS once again. 

While there are lots of questions, one big one is whether or not Ty France returns. 

France signed a minor league deal this past offseason, but he turned things around and became arguably the most important bat in the lineup time and time again. 

Following the NLDS loss, France was asked about his impending free agency. 

"I love this place. I don’t know what the offseason’s going to look like or what’s in store … but I’ve said it since spring training: this is where I want to be. My heart’s in San Diego. ...I understand it’s a business. We haven’t had those conversations yet. So we’ll see what happens," France said, via Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune. 

France hit .295 with 21 home runs and 72 RBIs during the regular season, and he played a total of 133 games with San Diego. 

He was with the Padres in 2019 and 2020 before being traded to the Seattle Mariners, so it was a homecoming for the former San Diego State Aztecs star player. 

France spent 2025 with the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays, including being a part of the Blue Jays team that went to the World Series, although he didn't have the success he had in San Diego. 

When you look at the 2027 roster - although the lockout might prevent the season from taking place - France would easily fill the first base spot once again, and he has versatility to also be a designed hitter and even play the infield if needed. 

The question is this: How much would the Padres pay France? And, how much could he command in free agency on the open market? 

The story is even more remarkable when you consider that France went into spring training fighting for a roster spot. Not only did he make it, but he was with the team all season long and was a constant force for manager Craig Stammen. 

It will be a long offseason, and there are a lot of other questions - specifically when it comes to Adrian Morejon and Michael King - but France has done nothing but insure that he should, at the very least, be given a generous contract offer from the Padres for the future.