Parlez-vous français? Why the Marlins should consider signing Ty France

The Marlins have been active this offseason in the free agent and trade markets. Peter Bendix got his whale in fireballing closer Pete Fairbanks. He also dealt from starting pitching depth while maximizing return value on Miami’s biggest trade asset, Edward Cabrera, who is coming off a career year after he managed to stay healthy. The acquisitions of Esteury Ruiz and Christopher Morel bolstered the club's position player depth. These moves, along with the fact that top prospects including the likes of Thomas White, Robby Snelling, and Joe Mack are on the verge of their big league debuts, have given brightened their 2026 outlook.

However, the Marlins shouldn’t be content yet. As winter wears on and we push closer to pitchers and catchers reporting back to Jupiter, there is still more that can and should be done.

The Marlins spent much of last season with a hole at first base. Following the losses of Troy Johnston (claimed by Rockies) and Eric Wagaman (traded to Twins), that hole is even more glaring. Currently, three players on their 40-man roster have played first base in the big leagues: Liam Hicks, Graham Pauley and Javier Sanoja. Each of them are far more experienced and effective at other positions, though.

In the minor leagues, the closest thing the Marlins have to an MLB-ready first baseman is Deyvison De Los Santos. While the last baseball we saw DDLS play this winter overseas was encouraging, he struggled in hitter-friendly Jacksonville this past season. There were also concerns about him off the field as well. The power-only bat will require more seasoning in Triple-A.

If only there existed an experienced first baseman who could hold down the position in the short term and help mentor parts of Miami’s young core as a great teammate.

Enter Tyler Lawrence France. A very late-round pick in 2015, France has proven to be a very productive major leaguer for five different organizations. In five of his six MLB seasons, he’s posted a positive WAR.

Originally a second/third baseman, France began playing first base for the Mariners in 2021. He hasn’t spent much time at any other position since, giving him over 5,400 career innings at the position. With the glove, France has been among MLB’s best at the position, including this past season. For the second time in his career, the 31-year-old led his league in fielding percentage at a near-perfect .996. He also turned in a 10 OAA and his fielding run value was plus-7, marks which ranked first and second among 1Bs.

Offensively, France can be a pesky hitter. He has never struck out much, but he also does not take many walks. In 2025, he posted a 16.9% K rate and 4.5% walk rate, making him one of the most inconsistent free passes in all of baseball. His propensity for getting hit by pitches keeps his on-base percentage in good condition (he has twice led MLB in that category). Historically, France has been able to square up enough to reach double-digit home runs, but he has limited bat speed and even more limited foot speed. Overall, he is mostly a singles-hitting, for-average bat who is best off the bench and can be slotted in at the bottom of a lineup where he attempts to find a hole and turn it over.

France’s struggles on both sides of the ball in 2024 allowed the Twins to garner his services for an even $1 million. He didn’t live out the full season with Minnesota as he was dealt to the Blue Jays as part of a deadline deal. With Toronto, France made it to the World Series for the first time in his career, but he wasn’t much of a contributor. Ultimately, he was not offered a new contract and has not been offered one since the start of free agency. Headed into his age-31 season, France would not cost much and there is a likelihood he may even accept a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.

Absent any outside additions, Christopher Morel, Griffin Conine and Heriberto Hernández are leading candidates to see time at first base. The Marlins may ultimately move Agustín Ramírez off the catcher position—especially as Joe Mack nears a big league call-up—but Bendix has remained adamant that he is confident in Ramírez’s ability to stick at backstop. All of these individuals are neophytes at the defensive aspects of manning first.

A potential France signing would not be flashy. It would not garner many ooh’s and ahh’s from Marlins fans, much less the national baseball world. However, it would provide Miami with a short-term fix to their most obvious problem, first base defense, in the most obvious way. As a bonus, he can also play other positions. There is a potential added bonus if the pop in his bat returns.

All we are saying is give France a chance. With low-risk/high-reward potential, the Marlins can’t go wrong.