Ty France and the Bargain Bin

[Trov]

First, it is still very early, but the early returns on Ty France is encouraging.  He was scooped up for 1 mil.  Santana, was let go and signed for 12 mil, twice what he got last year.  Due to budget issues that required a shift.  France was the guy.  Many, including myself, scoffed at the signing.  He was coming off 2 terrible years and not a good defender.  Now, he is not lighting the world on fire by any stretch, but he is playing at decent level. Santana is putting up similar numbers.  I hope France can stay at or exceed his current level, but for the 1 mil dumpster dive, the early returns are good. 

[bean5302]

France is doing fine. He's not great defensively, as billed, but his bat is holding its own at the moment. At .265/.324/.397 OPS .721 wRC+ 114, he's not burning the barn down, but it's valuable enough. It's still super early in the season, obviously. This time last year Carlos Santana was at .135/.224/.154 OPS .378 wRC+ 8.

While I wasn't excited about the Farmer signing, the combination of his solid play and Miranda's horrible start make it look like a good move.

[Linus]

I also was one who wanted Miranda to be given the job. France is clearly better as I fear Miranda is circling the drain. 
That said, teams that aspire to deep playoff runs aren’t adding the Ty Frances of the world as their big free agent signing. 

[DocBauer]

I am NOT tooting my own horn, but I did make a comment in an OP when discussing 1B signing options I was OUT on Rizzo and a few others presented as options, and would rather have France as a 30yo bounceback option vs the remaining options.

He was very good in 2022, and pretty decent...not great...in 2023. And he was off to a good start in 2024 before a foot injury that derailed his season.

I WANTED Goldschmidt very badly for 1yr, or a 1+1 deal thinking there was still gas in the tank. I also wanted Josh Bell as a 1B/DH option. Goldschmidt has looked OK so far, not great, and Bell looks bad. So I was probably off there.

But once 1B was a "who do you take a chance on", France made the most sense on age and a return to performance based on such, as well as health.

SO FAR, he has been the smart choice. While no defensive whiz, I've been generally impressed with his ability to play a solid 1B and scoop the ball well. The bat has been solid so far. While I got slight pushback about him being a potentially important bat around the 7th spot or so in the lineup...that's not usually where you find your 1B....he could be valuable if he maintains his near 2022/2023 self in that spot. But that also means a healthy Wallner, Correa, and Lewis. Arrgh! 

But so far, he has been the right choice on a cheap deal for 2025.

 

[Vanimal46]

Falvey has found his niche signing random veteran 1B for cheap. How valuable is that skill? Going off the past 4 years of Twins history, not much. 

[Mike Sixel]

His ops is under 700.... And people are happy he's here, at first base?

Low bar. 

[bean5302]

45 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

His ops is under 700.... And people are happy he's here, at first base?

Low bar. 

Happy vs. acceptable. Miranda did everything he could to blow his chances, and I'm not happy about that.

[USAFChief]

Serious teams do not have Ty France as option 1 at first base.

[MGX]

I still don't like the France (95 OPS+ at 1B) signing - what difference would it really make if someone else was playing 1B, even if it was Miranda (he's had 2 seasons with 400+ PA's both above average offensive seasons).

It's the same thing over & over again - sign washed up veterans & hope to catch lightning in the bottle. Every once in awhile it will work, Santana worked out fine last year, but how many haven't? How many of these veterans have kept us from finding out what we really have with younger players. I'd much rather play & discover a Brent Rooker than hoping to get lucky for one season with a veteran.

This approach isn't working & something needs to change.