LAS VEGAS – There were definitely bigger signings than Ty France last offseason, but the Padres’ first baseman was among the most valuable, by far.
After signing France to a one-year, $1.35 million deal that climbed to $2 million with incentives, he delivered 21 home runs, 72 RBIs, an .865 OPS, all of it adding up to a 4.6 bWAR for the 32-year-old.
France’s success has many executives around the league trying to figure out whether there were signs that this resurgent season was in the cards, digging into the numbers as they try to identify who the next big breakout bargain free agent might be.
“We're always looking for signs,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said here at the General Managers Meetings. “For forever, we've always looked for signs for who's going to break out. I'm still looking, honestly.”
“It’s easier said than done, but that's exactly what a team like ours has to figure out,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said. “It came up in our offseason meetings, because we struggled against left-handed pitching this year and we're looking for a right-handed bat, a corner bat and Ty France is great. My question was, ‘Who is the next Ty France?’ Do I have a magic formula on how to do that? No, I do not.”
Several of France’s Statcast numbers took a modest jump from 2024 to 2025, a potential sign that he was moving closer to being the 4-win player he was in 2021 and who made the All-Star team in 2022. He took it to another level this past season, rewarding the Padres for their faith in him.
“Player development doesn't stop at the big leagues,” Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said. “It doesn't stop when you're 30. It doesn't stop when you're 32. There are plenty of examples of guys getting meaningfully better later in their career, so it's our job to get these players better, no matter where they are in their careers.”
ROLE PLAYING
Adrian Morejon figures to be one of the more popular names on the market this winter, as most executives have him tabbed as the top reliever available in free agency.
But will he be a reliever for his next team?
With recent bullpen-to-rotation success stories such as Garrett Crochet, Michael King and Clay Holmes, there is the belief that a club could view Morejon as a potential starter. The 27-year-old was a starter in the Minor Leagues, but he’s had his greatest success out of the bullpen, posting a 2.58 ERA over 211 relief appearances.
“The bullpen is the safe play,” a National League executive said. “But if his stuff holds in longer stints, he’s a lot more valuable at 120 innings pitched than at 70. He’s nasty.”
ARMS RACE
Starting pitchers should have a solid market this winter according to executives and agents, as the second tier of arms after Tarik Skubal are already drawing plenty of interest.
But the tiers below the likes of King, Holmes, Freddy Peralta, Trevor Rogers and Sonny Gray are also attracting a number of suitors in the early days of free agency.
One name to watch is Patrick Sandoval, who, according to sources, has more than a half-dozen clubs interested in his services.
Sandoval’s numbers the past few years have not been pretty; since the start of 2023, the left-hander is 10-28 with a 4.61 ERA, including a 5.12 ERA in 70.1 innings this past season, his first since undergoing Tommy John surgery. Yet a number of teams believe he could be a prime bounce-back candidate, leading to the significant interest he’s already receiving.
“Lots of teams have wanted him for a while,” said one NL executive. “His fastball plays. Everybody thinks they can fix the rest.”