Padres bring back Ty France on Minors deal (source)

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres are reuniting with veteran first baseman Ty France, sources told MLB.com on Monday, the latest addition to the team’s spring roster during a busy few days for general manager A.J. Preller.

France will join the Padres on a Minor League deal with an invite to big league Spring Training. The club has not yet confirmed the signing, which is pending a physical.

France’s arrival comes in the aftermath of two similar signings. Last week, the Padres added Miguel Andujar on a one-year big league deal. On Sunday, they did the same with Nick Castellanos, who seems likely to move to first base.

Indeed, Preller has been busy. On Monday, the team announced a multiyear extension for the longtime general manager. Over the weekend, he also added right-handers Griffin Canning and Germán Márquez to the mix, helping to round out the rotation.

France’s fit

Over the past few seasons, France has played a small handful of games at second and third base. But for all intents and purposes, he’s a first baseman -- which could limit his path to a roster spot.

The Padres have plenty of options at first base -- including Gavin Sheets, Andujar and, presumably, Castellanos (if his transition goes smoothly). What does France have going for him? Those three are relative novices at first base. He’s a Gold Glover.

Long known for his bat, France orchestrated a remarkable turnaround with his defense at first base this past season. One year after posting the lowest outs above average total at the position (-12), France’s +10 OAA in 2025 were the most among all first basemen, and he earned his first Gold Glove Award.

Perhaps there’s a spot for France on the bench as a defensive replacement, given the question marks defensively. Castellanos has never played first in the big leagues. Sheets played primarily DH and left field last season. Andujar has always been known for his bat.

Back to San Diego

The 31-year-old France began last season on the Twins and ended it on the pennant-winning Blue Jays, following a trade on July 31. He batted .277 with a .692 OPS in 37 regular-season games with Toronto.

France was an All-Star in 2022 with the Mariners and owns a career .262/.334/.400 slash line with 81 career home runs. He began that career in San Diego after the Padres drafted him out of San Diego State in 2015.

France debuted in 2019, before he was sent to Seattle a year later in a seven-player trade that also sent Andrés Muñoz to Seattle, with Austin Nola coming back in return. (Preller has made some great deals over the years. This was not one of them.)

Now, 5 1/2 years later, France is back in San Diego entering his age-31 season, with a chance to win a bench spot.

The bench competition

As things stand, there might only be one place available on the Padres’ season-opening bench -- though that’s always subject to change due to injuries or future transactions.

Still, it’s tough to see France fitting into the current mix. The quartet of Sheets, Castellanos, Andujar and Sung-Mun Song figures to occupy two starting spots and two bench spots on a daily basis. One other bench spot will go to the backup catcher -- Luis Campusano, presumably.

That leaves one place, and the Padres don’t have an obvious backup center fielder. Ramón Laureano filled that role occasionally a season ago. Song will get reps in the outfield this spring. But that final bench place would almost certainly go to a player capable of manning center field, like, say, Bryce Johnson.

Then again, there’s plenty that can change between now and Opening Day. If France proves himself during Spring Training, he might just play his way into a spot.