NEWS: Twins Agree to Sign Infielder Ty France

[ashbury]

38 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

More jumping to conclusions on this cold February evening in North Dakota. 

They didn't pay France 1 Million to play every day. He's going to short side if he makes the club.

Here's a question... Who does France Pair with? Julien at DH or Larnach at DH? 

I was about to suggest a nice Chianti, but this being France I guess it needs to be a Bordeaux.

[Riverbrian]

7 minutes ago, ashbury said:

who I hope wins Comeback Player of the Year but possibly will not.

This is brilliant writing. Wish I would have thought of it. 

[Riverbrian]

2 minutes ago, ashbury said:

I was about to suggest a nice Chianti, but this being France I guess is needs to be a Bordeaux.

Oh For Crepes Sake! 

[nicksaviking]

16 hours ago, LewFordLives said:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/twins-sign-ty-france.html

 

Phil Miller of ST (via MLBTraderumors)  is reporting that Ty France is only getting $1 million, and it's only guaranteed if he makes the club.  

So I guess he'll have a few weeks in Ft Myers to show if he still has anything left.

Glad I read this after dinner. Mea culpas are always better as a desert than an appetizer.

[stringer bell]

The Twins are a team that is really slow and suspect defensively, and they added a guy who is really slow and suspect defensively.

I can’t like this move and suspect Gleeman is right that France will be a whipping boy for the critics

[D.C Twins]

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Doing absolutely nothing would have made me feel better.

It would have made me applaud actually, that was my off season blue print for a transitioning ownership group from the start.

 

Yup...would have rather just let the kids play and see what we have

[bean5302]

I guess this is insurance in case guys like Miranda and Julien both look terrible this spring or something. Or maybe the Twins just want to see if they can fix France or something? At least the deal is non-guaranteed.

[Fatbat]

6 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

Who?

and Whats on 2nd?

[Fatbat]

Is Joey Gallo available yet? 🤣😂

[Danchat]

Not a fan of this move... but I am glad to see it is only for $1M that isn't guaranteed. I thought he had more power, but looking through his numbers I'm surprised by the lack of HRs. He is a career .263/.337 hitter but he's on a downward trend... and a poor defender. I'd much rather see if Miranda or Julien can handle 1B. Miranda at least has had streaks where he is a top 3 hitter on this team and Julien was great in 2023, for France you have to hope he goes back to being his 2022 self or else he is a replacement level player or worse. I'm fine with the move if they give Miranda a legit shot and don't pigeon-hole themselves into 400 questionable PAs from France if not.

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, ashbury said:

I was about to suggest a nice Chianti, but this being France I guess it needs to be a Bordeaux.

[1985Fan]

Don’t like this signing. This move cost Headrick. He’s was picked off waivers by the Yankees. I thought Headrick would be good depth or even blossom into a reliable option. 
I don’t understand why they sign France when they have Miranda, Ford, Severino, and other options. They should have traded for Jake Berger early in the offseason instead of sitting on their hands! 
 

[TheLeviathan]

I see the logic and the fit for Bader.  I don't for France.  

It's nice the deal is non-guaranteed, I just don't know why you do it at all.  Dejong?  Sure, I see it.  This?  Nope.

[dberthia]

Bats right? CHECK

Has played first? CHECK

At one point was good? CHECK

Can't currently hit? CHECK

Can't currently field? CHECK

Everyone else passed on him? CHECK

Comes cheap? CHECK

Ty France: YOU are Minnesota Twins material!

[UK Twin]

10 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Bader got 8 million. He's not a minor signing for this team. 

Um no he didn't. He's getting 4.75mill then an extra 1.5mill when the mutual option is declined at the end of the season. That's 6.25mill guaranteed.

[Major League Ready]

8 hours ago, bean5302 said:

I guess this is insurance in case guys like Miranda and Julien both look terrible this spring or something. Or maybe the Twins just want to see if they can fix France or something? At least the deal is non-guaranteed.

The non-guaranteed part escaped me when I first saw this signing.  Thanks for mentioning it.   This changes things a bit.  I will wait until the end of spring training before forming an opinion on this deal.   Right now all they have done is added an option.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

15 hours ago, Brandon said:

Looking at Ty’s stats he is a 25-30 2Bs and 15-20 HR potential.  His walks are light be he does have elite HBP skills.  If he can get his average to .270 he would be useful.  Though I suspect his cost is low enough that someone can take his playing time away and he could spend more time on the bench or even get released I’d he is not producing.  

When was the last time this team benched or released a veteran?

we just watched Manny Margot play the most games he’s played in a season since 2019 to his worst hitting and fielding performance of his absolute disaster of a career. He hit a 79 wRC+ while sporting -5 OAA. 
 

the worst part about these horrible signings is that these guys are going to play a lot.

[TwinsDr2021]

15 hours ago, Charleo said:

I continue to be confused as to why folks are blaming Falvey.    If your boss gave you $20 to buy your whole office lunch, you'd have to buy $20 worth of crap to stretch the money.   Is that your fault or your Bosses fault?    It's not like Falvey is looking at Pete Alonso and Ty France and going, "Yep, Ty is the better player."     France is a $.25 hotdog in this analogy.  Continue to blame the owners, even if they are selling.  They have billions.  Billions.  They'd prefer to save it and feed us Ty France.

First off this is bad analogy, Second Falvey knew the job when he took it. You took a job saying you know the conditions then blame the owner because of those?

[TwinsDr2021]

15 hours ago, NYCTK said:

Martin was given a huge chance last season and he sucked it up. 

First like to point out I am not a huge fan of Martin, but if 329 PA is not a huge chance compared to giving a worse hitter (Margot) 343 it is justification for a poor FO plan.

[NYCTK]

42 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

First like to point out I am not a huge fan of Martin, but if 329 PA is not a huge chance compared to giving a worse hitter (Margot) 343 it is justification for a poor FO plan.

They both suck, but somehow even Margot was better in the field so I understand it to some degree. 

But yeah, I agree with you. The fact that they even broke camp with Margot after he showed Rocco he couldn't play CF was a failure. Don't know who's more to blame, Front Office or Rocco, but the teams leadership and decision making clearly sucks. 

Keirsey could play at a minimum a competent CF and should have gotten more than the 3 games or whatever it is he got last season. 

[MMMordabito]

14 hours ago, PseudoSABR said:

Another hot take without all the facts.  He's got a 1 million dollar non-guaranteed prove-it-spring-training deal.  

The curmudgeons that incessantly post before the deal is even known make commenting on this board insufferable, even if the site is still informative. 

To be fair, the article here stated that France figures to take on a role similar to Santana or Solano and that he figures to be the regular at first base.  That of course was written before the full deal was known as well.  After watching 550+ PAs (nevermind the lousy defense they provided when playing up the middle) between Margot and Farmer last season doing the exact thing that these posts complain about, I think the frustration is warranted based on the information that was given at the time here on this site.

[stringer bell]

I don't like the France signing. IMHO, he's one injury (or performance disappointment) away from being a full-time player and he is yet another guy that can't beat you with his legs or his glove. He's got to hit A LOT to justify playing time (again IMHO) and he hasn't done that since 2022. He's a poorer version of Donovan Solano and Solano has been a far better hitter than France since Opening Day 2023.

There has to be someone somewhere who can help the team more. The contract is bargain basement--low dollars and no guarantee--but that doesn't make it a good signing and losing Headrick in the bargain already means that France needs to produce something in order to justify the deal.

[HoskenPowell]

Cannot believe it's a ML deal and not a minor league signing.........Rizzo must have wanted too much or just plain wouldn't come here.

And why do the Twins seem to dislike LH pitching?????

[MMMordabito]

13 hours ago, ashbury said:

I was about to suggest a nice Chianti, but this being France I guess it needs to be a Bordeaux.

France? Bordeaux?  That's way over budget.

I'm guessing Julien and malt vinegar (the packets that you get at Long John Silver's and have to ask for now).

[LambchoP]

My guess is whoever looks better defensively between Miranda and France gets the first base job and the other will get DH at bats with Julien playing first for the Saints and needing to earn a call up. I'm not sure Ty France will be able to outperform Yunior Severino. Dude has two plus years experience at first base and has crazy power. Also a switch hitter. Maybe he gets a mid season call up if he's doing well in AAA and Miranda or France gets hurt?

[Riverbrian]

3 hours ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

When was the last time this team benched or released a veteran?

we just watched Manny Margot play the most games he’s played in a season since 2019 to his worst hitting and fielding performance of his absolute disaster of a career. He hit a 79 wRC+ while sporting -5 OAA. 
 

the worst part about these horrible signings is that these guys are going to play a lot.

I agree with you. Those 1 year contracts hang around for the entire contract. They consistently keep them in the clubhouse until the end. 

However... I got to believe that a 1 million dollar deal can be shed. Like they shed Jay Jackson last year. 

Bader... It'll take dynamite to dislodge him from the roster. 

[RpR]

1 hour ago, NYCTK said:

They both suck, but somehow even Margot was better in the field so I understand it to some degree. 

But yeah, I agree with you. The fact that they even broke camp with Margot after he showed Rocco he couldn't play CF was a failure. Don't know who's more to blame, Front Office or Rocco, but the teams leadership and decision making clearly sucks. 

Keirsey could play at a minimum a competent CF and should have gotten more than the 3 games or whatever it is he got last season. 

Spring Training will decide a lot; too much moaning and groaning going on over players disliked and wishful thinking for the youths that are treated like mistreated sons.

[NYCTK]

4 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Bader... It'll take dynamite to dislodge him from the roster. 

It's February 12th and Twins "fans" are already trying to DFA a bona fide major leaguer because they don't like how much money he makes. Looking at the depth chart, you'd have to have zero understanding of the game of baseball to think he should be dislodged.

Manuel Margot had no bigger hater than myself. But y'all have been so scarred by him that you've become delusional. 

[Riverbrian]

8 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

It's February 12th and Twins "fans" are already trying to DFA a bona fide major leaguer because they don't like how much money he makes. Looking at the depth chart, you'd have to have zero understanding of the game of baseball to think he should be dislodged.

Manuel Margot had no bigger hater than myself. But y'all have been so scarred by him that you've become delusional. 

Don't talk about zero understanding when you lack it. 

This front office has never released a player with significant money attached to it. 

My post was in response to the Rally Goat who has demonstrated time and time again on this website that he understands the Twins typical operating style and more.

He said

When was the last time this team benched or released a veteran?

we just watched Manny Margot play the most games he’s played in a season since 2019 to his worst hitting and fielding performance of his absolute disaster of a career. He hit a 79 wRC+ while sporting -5 OAA. 

He's not wrong. I responded that I felt that a low dollar amount attached to France may make it easier to release him if necessary. I then used Bader as an example of someone who would not be released no matter what.  

You can call it Margot scaring all you want but there are more beyond Margot.

You don't understand what is being said and you are willing to fight anyone to the death over Bader. 

I get it... You Like Bader.  

[NYCTK]

2 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Don't talk about zero understanding when you lack it. 

This front office has never released a player with significant money attached to it. 

My post was in response to the Rally Goat who has demonstrated time and time again on this website that he understands the Twins typical operating style and more.

He said

When was the last time this team benched or released a veteran?

we just watched Manny Margot play the most games he’s played in a season since 2019 to his worst hitting and fielding performance of his absolute disaster of a career. He hit a 79 wRC+ while sporting -5 OAA. 

He's not wrong. I responded that I felt that a low dollar amount attached to France may make it easier to release him if necessary. I then used Bader as an example of someone who would not be released no matter what.  

You can call it Margot scaring all you want but there are more beyond Margot.

You don't understand what is being said and you are willing to fight anyone to the death over Bader. 

I get it... You Like Bader.  

Like I said, you're already wanting to cut Bader.