The Cleveland Guardians have a hole at first base, and one of the top free agents at the position is already drawing plenty of attention. Ty France is coming off the best season of his career with the San Diego Padres, and according to The Athletic, multiple teams are interested in signing him. CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa believes a deal could come together quickly. He also named a handful of contenders that make sense for the veteran, and Cleveland was on the list. Axisa wrote, “The Diamondbacks, Guardians, Mets, Rangers, and of course Padres stand out as potential landing spots.”
“France had a career year in 2026 after opening his stance a bit, which unlocked more hard-hit ability. It’s unclear which teams are in the hunt for France, though there is no shortage of contenders who could use the 32-year-old. The Diamondbacks, Guardians, Mets, Rangers, and of course Padres stand out as potential landing spots. Given his career year and the surprising lack of right-handed power in the game right now, France could command a multi-year contract,” Axisa wrote.
France’s 2026 numbers explain the interest. In 133 games for San Diego, he hit .295 with a .363 on-base percentage and a .502 slugging percentage, adding 21 home runs, 24 doubles and 72 RBIs. His .865 OPS and 139 OPS+ were both career highs, and he finished the year with 4.5 WAR. Axisa credited a slightly more open stance for the breakout, saying it helped France hit the ball much harder than he had in recent years.
He can also handle the glove. France won a Gold Glove at first base in 2025 while splitting the year between Minnesota and Toronto, and he has experience at third base and second base as well.
The fit in Cleveland is easy to see. Nathaniel Lowe and Rhys Hoskins are both free agents. Ralphy Velazquez could be the long-term answer after hitting 29 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A, but he may need a little more time. France could hold down the position while Velazquez develops, or the two could share time between first base and designated hitter.
France would also bring balance to the lineup. Cleveland leans heavily on left-handed hitters, and Axisa pointed out that right-handed power is surprisingly hard to find around the league right now. France would give Stephen Vogt another right-handed bat to pair with Jo Adell in the middle of the order.
There are reasons for caution, though. France’s breakout came after two rough seasons, when he posted OPS marks of .670 in 2024 and .681 in 2025 while bouncing among four different teams. He turns 33 next July, and Axisa believes his big year could earn him a multiyear contract. That is the kind of deal Cleveland has rarely been willing to hand out.
France does have a long history in the American League, including five seasons in Seattle that featured an All-Star selection in 2022. The Padres originally drafted him in the 34th round in 2015 out of San Diego State, and he has carved out a solid career with a .752 OPS and 102 home runs.
If the price comes down to a short-term deal, France could be exactly what Cleveland needs at first base. If the bidding climbs, the Guardians will likely move on to cheaper options. Either way, his name is one to watch as the market starts to heat up.
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