What Does Ty France Mean for José Miranda's Role With the 2025 Twins?

[bean5302]

2 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Twins' projected roster has France at 1B. I don't know what stunt they are trying to pull off but this is ridiculous. I hope France has regained his hitting prowess & be our DH & help support 1B which we need but not primary 1B. France has been bad defensively for a while let Miranda finally have a chance to get better there by having the primary 1B job. 

Projected by whom? 

As of right now (3:37PM Central Time on Thursday, February 13th) on the Twins' official MLB site, Ty France doesn't appear on the depth chart at any position, period.
https://www.mlb.com/twins/roster/depth-chart

As far as 1B, it's listed as Jose Miranda -> Eduoard Julien -> Mickey Gasper right now.

[Doctor Gast]

20 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Projected by whom? 

As of right now (3:37PM Central Time on Thursday, February 13th) on the Twins' official MLB site, Ty France doesn't appear on the depth chart at any position, period.
https://www.mlb.com/twins/roster/depth-chart

As far as 1B, it's listed as Jose Miranda -> Eduoard Julien -> Mickey Gasper right now.

This is what I went by

https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/twins-2025-opening-day-roster

Nothing is official until he officially makes the team.

[DocBauer]

1 hour ago, thelanges5 said:

Maybe it’s Julien who is more impacted. Is it just me or is the 2B situation murky?

It's not just you. How 2B gets settled impacts the last couple of roster spots. It can go multiple ways.

[TheLeviathan]

It should mean nothing.  The fact that it might mean something is why I really don't like the France move.

[weitz41]

For me France is a Kyle Farmer replacement that doesn't play SS at 1/6 the cost. Sounds like a win to me. Also, I remember the whole WTF thing last offseason about Santana. Maybe, JUST maybe, we need to keep the gun powder dry for later.

[sweetmusicviola16]

5 hours ago, mickster said:

Depth against a potential trade that includes either Julien or Miranda as well.  Boston just signed Bergman and look intent on playing him at 2B.   However an offer off Miranda, SWR and Martin might get Casas to MN

I'm not big on Casas. Not a good 1B glove and the bat isn't much of an upgrade over Miranda. I'd rather stick with Miranda and keep Richardson. Maybe Casas improves his glove and explodes with the bat?

[sweetmusicviola16]

2 hours ago, DocBauer said:

It's not just you. How 2B gets settled impacts the last couple of roster spots. It can go multiple ways.

I'm of the thought to go with Royce at 2B and go with Lee at 3B. Only question to me is if Royce can handle the physicality that goes with 2B. But can he stay healthy anywhere?

[dxpavelka]

Miranda may be the more promising player but you can't make soup out of promise.

[Met Stadium Usher]

Just noting that France came up to the Bigs also playing 2nd and 3rd, to add to what weitz41 said above. Maybe he can still be useful as (yet another) utility infielder. It would be nice to get his bat going. 

[stringer bell]

2 hours ago, Met Stadium Usher said:

Just noting that France came up to the Bigs also playing 2nd and 3rd, to add to what weitz41 said above. Maybe he can still be useful as (yet another) utility infielder. It would be nice to get his bat going. 

He's only played a couple innings at second in the last two years. He has Vázquez like speed, so I can't imagine he would be an option except for an emergency.

[darin617]

What I dont understand is if all France could get is 1 million why wasn't he just signed to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training? 

On the bright side nobody will complain about it when he's released in early May.

[T.O.]

8 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Give me the young guy and let him grow with experience.  I will be very disappointed if France takes playing time away from Miranda.

I REALLY like Miranda. He hasn't always been consistent and 23 was a wash because he over trained in the off-season but he's had moments where he shined. I can't guess what hey plan on doing but I hope Miranda gets a good chance to stick one place most of the time.

[Doctor Wu]

15 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

Maybe it’s Julien who is more impacted. Is it just me or is the 2B situation murky?

It seems like most of the infield is drowning in murk. Lots of of bodies and position flexibility, but the durability of many of these players remains a concern too. 

[Doctor Wu]

11 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

you can't make soup out of promise.

Great line!

[dxpavelka]

51 minutes ago, Doctor Wu said:

Great line!

Thanks

 

[stringer bell]

10 hours ago, darin617 said:

What I dont understand is if all France could get is 1 million why wasn't he just signed to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training? 

On the bright side nobody will complain about it when he's released in early May.

It would appear that he (his agent) insisted on it. The Twins lost a guy because of the contract, but really there isn’t much benefit for France. He’s still on a “prove it” deal for comparatively low dollars, unless there are clauses we don’t know about. 

[stringer bell]

14 hours ago, weitz41 said:

For me France is a Kyle Farmer replacement that doesn't play SS at 1/6 the cost. Sounds like a win to me. Also, I remember the whole WTF thing last offseason about Santana. Maybe, JUST maybe, we need to keep the gun powder dry for later.

Don’t agree. Farmer had utility. France really doesn’t—first base and DH—and Farmer had a couple seasons where he really did damage to LH pitching. France’s splits are pretty neutral. 

[Riverbrian]

11 hours ago, darin617 said:

What I dont understand is if all France could get is 1 million why wasn't he just signed to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training? 

On the bright side nobody will complain about it when he's released in early May.

Ty France and players like him probably have their pick of minor league deals. You sign a minor league deal if nobody is offering you a 40 man spot. 

If the Twins want him and obviously they did... then they must give what other teams will not.

In other words... the Twins won the bidding war against the other 29 teams by simply offering a 40 man spot.   

 

[Otaknam]

Another cheap scrap heap reclamation project, ensuring the fans are even MORE indifferent. 

[jmlease1]

I hated the Ty France signing initially. I hate it a little less with him not having a guaranteed contract. And at $1M, that's barely above minimum salary these days.

But I'd still much rather have Miranda getting most of the time at 1B. No, his defense will not impress, but he's hardly a dog out there, and when he's healthy he can hit. And this lineup needs his offense. he's well suited to the middle of the lineup, with good contact skills.

Ty France as insurance against Miranda's health? ok. Ty France, maybe recovered from a heel injury, and hitting for some power again on a cheap contract as a backup/DH? ok. Ty France as the starting 1B because he's got 6 years in MLB to Miranda's 3? eff no. Ty France battling Julien and Martin for a spot on the 26-man? I guess? Ty France getting the job on scholarship because he's a veteran and Martin & Julien have options? eff no.

For me, France need to show he's healthy and can be better than a league average hitter to get a spot. Otherwise, what's the point? 

[LambchoP]

I think he was signed as a backup plan in case Miranda, Julien, Gasper and Ford look like they can't handle the 1b job. I just hope France doesn't get a spot on the team based on his experience at first. I say go with the best bat seeing as none of these guys are good defenders anyways. Go with Miranda, maybe Julien. Give Severino a look if he's swinging well and eventually maybe Keaschal. We've got lots of options for 1b and 2nd base, just need to find the best combo of guys at each position.

[LambchoP]

I do think the long term infield is

1b - Royce Lewis

2nd - Keaschal 

SS - Correa

3rd - Lee

DH - Miranda

Utility/bench - Eeles, Martin, Julien

 

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, LambchoP said:

I do think the long term infield is

1b - Royce Lewis

2nd - Keaschal 

SS - Correa

3rd - Lee

DH - Miranda

Utility/bench - Eeles, Martin, Julien

 

If I was predicting, I would go with the same guys as starters for the rest of the decade, however it is all projection. A year from now it might look totally different. Keaschall hasn't played above AA, and the rest of the players haven't (except Correa) completed a single season. I'd love to see more durability from all these guys. 

[TopGunn#22]

I'm not very fired up about the Ty France signing.  He's not a very good fielding 1B.  Neither is Miranda.  So improving the team defensively there wasn't accomplished.  I've heard nothing that assures me Julien has even worked out at 1B this off season or that the Twins actually have that in mind.  We should say "Julien BATS left handed"  NOT  "Julien HITS left handed."  There is a difference you know.  

I've never seen a major league hitter so lost as Julien was last season.  He's got a LOT to prove to me.  

Ty France is not a significantly better power hitter than Miranda (who has nice "Gap" power but I'm not sure he will ever reach 20 HR in a season).  So there is no significant upgrade there.

France no longer has the ability to play 3B or 2B and he's a poor runner.  So there is no significant upgrade there.  I'm not sure if Royce Lewis is a possibility for 1B.  It seems like they expect him to play 3B and Brooks Lee would be the favorite at 2B if he hits.  But I think LambchoP is correct in pointing out that Luke Keaschall is probably the future 2B.  That could auger a move to 3B by Lee.  Where does that leave Lewis??  1B?  Full time DH to keep him healthy and swinging a lethal bat?  

Where does Ty France fit in any of these equations?  He doesn't.  He just takes AB's away from younger players with potentially higher ceilings.  You can say the way the contract is constructed leaves little risk for the Twins and I'd agree with that.  But for every AB or ground ball that France takes in spring training, that's one less for a younger player with higher potential.  

[Linus]

I would hope and guess that if Miranda looks good this spring France will not be a factor in his playing time.

[weitz41]

On 2/14/2025 at 8:35 AM, stringer bell said:

Don’t agree. Farmer had utility. France really doesn’t—first base and DH—and Farmer had a couple seasons where he really did damage to LH pitching. France’s splits are pretty neutral. 

I see what you're saying but agree to disagree on this signing. Not much downside a 1M and lots of up. No, he won't play SS in a pinch. But farmer was Meh everywhere last year and nothing special the year before. At 1/6th the cost Nice Bence guy. No, you won't want as your starter.

[Doctor Gast]

8 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I'm not very fired up about the Ty France signing.  He's not a very good fielding 1B.  Neither is Miranda.  So improving the team defensively there wasn't accomplished.  I've heard nothing that assures me Julien has even worked out at 1B this off season or that the Twins actually have that in mind.  We should say "Julien BATS left handed"  NOT  "Julien HITS left handed."  There is a difference you know.  

I've never seen a major league hitter so lost as Julien was last season.  He's got a LOT to prove to me.  

Ty France is not a significantly better power hitter than Miranda (who has nice "Gap" power but I'm not sure he will ever reach 20 HR in a season).  So there is no significant upgrade there.

France no longer has the ability to play 3B or 2B and he's a poor runner.  So there is no significant upgrade there.  I'm not sure if Royce Lewis is a possibility for 1B.  It seems like they expect him to play 3B and Brooks Lee would be the favorite at 2B if he hits.  But I think LambchoP is correct in pointing out that Luke Keaschall is probably the future 2B.  That could auger a move to 3B by Lee.  Where does that leave Lewis??  1B?  Full time DH to keep him healthy and swinging a lethal bat?  

Where does Ty France fit in any of these equations?  He doesn't.  He just takes AB's away from younger players with potentially higher ceilings.  You can say the way the contract is constructed leaves little risk for the Twins and I'd agree with that.  But for every AB or ground ball that France takes in spring training, that's one less for a younger player with higher potential.  

Members are voicing for Lewis to play at 1B (now & future) and I 100% agree. That said, inhouse Lewis should have been chosen to sub Miranda & not go outhouse. 

[jmlease1]

14 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Members are voicing for Lewis to play at 1B (now & future) and I 100% agree. That said, inhouse Lewis should have been chosen to sub Miranda & not go outhouse. 

I should really go back and see how many of the people that are moving Lewis around the field to different positions are the same ones mad at the Twins for not letting Jax start or suggesting that Duran will leave because the Twins moved him into the bullpen and prevented these players from playing their "preferred" positions and "costing them money"...

[TopGunn#22]

Go ahead and check back jmlease.  I was one of the guys saying that Jax could succeed as a SP and I still think that.  Of course he could still be very effective as a late inning RP.  He's just a good pitcher.  I'm willing to consider Lewis moving around the IF with 1B a possibility. 

I keep reading how Lewis's arm is a noodle now.  The guy started out with a cannon.  I think his throwing problems were more related to lower body issues than a lack of recovery from Tommy John.  I just want Lewis to play some place where he will stay healthy so his bat is socking 30 HR's and driving in 100 runs.

If you project Keaschall at 2B and Lee at 3B that kind of leaves Lewis somewhere else.  I'm not advocating for it, but I see it as a possible outcome.  With the exception of SS this Twins team is about as unsettled in the IF as I can ever remember.  You'd probably have to go back to 1981 or 1982 with Hrbek and Gaetti coming up at the corners to find a similar situation.   

[stringer bell]

11 minutes ago, TopGunn#22 said:

If you project Keaschall at 2B and Lee at 3B that kind of leaves Lewis somewhere else.  I'm not advocating for it, but I see it as a possible outcome.  With the exception of SS this Twins team is about as unsettled in the IF as I can ever remember.  You'd probably have to go back to 1981 or 1982 with Hrbek and Gaetti coming up at the corners to find a similar situation.   

I don't think "unsettled" is a totally bad thing, if the options are good ones. A year ago we had Julien penciled in for 120 games per year at second, Lewis as a possible MVP candidate and Lee as a top prospect who had to play somewhere. The star has dimmed for all three, but they are all pretty young and each could restore his luster. That is why I chuckle or perhaps sneer at projections for two or five years from now. 

My take is that Lewis is still going to be an All-Star because of his hitting, Lee is going to be a regular (150 games per year) someplace and Julien draws the short straw with the Twins organization, although he will hit well for someone down the road. I'd like Keaschall to thrive for at least half a year in the minors before I anoint him a future star or even a regular. If Keaschall and Lee are the real deal, I think Royce Lewis becomes a first baseman relatively early in his career. If you agree with me, I have stock market tips I'd like to share and they both have as much certainty of being right.