Twins sign former All-Star Ty France to help fill their void at first base

FORT MYERS, Fla. — With the retirement of Alex Kirilloff and the departure of Carlos Santana in free agency, not a single player on the Twins roster has started more than 81 games at first base as a big-leaguer.

The Twins addressed that deficiency Tuesday.

Ty France, a former All-Star first baseman with the Seattle Mariners, has agreed to a one-year, nonguaranteed contract worth $1 million, the team confirmed. The 30-year-old veteran of six big league seasons is expected in Twins camp Thursday to undergo a physical exam, which he must pass before the contract becomes official.

“We really like Ty and his upside with the bat,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “A guy we think still has a lot in there and has the potential to help us win games.”

France, who debuted with the San Diego Padres in 2019, has also played second and third base and posted two strong seasons in the Mariners lineup after being dealt to Seattle at the trade deadline in August 2020. He was named to the American League All-Star team in 2022 as an injury replacement for the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout. He hit .274 with 20 home runs and 83 RBI that season.

France’s offensive contributions declined in 2023 and 2024 and the Mariners traded him to Cincinnati at last year’s deadline. France managed only a .293 on-base percentage with the Reds and hit five home runs in 52 games. He was allowed to leave as a free agent at season’s end.

“He’s just 30, and he’s an athletic guy who put up some good numbers in a tough ballpark” in Seattle, Baldelli said. “We’re just going to let him hit and see what happens.”

France, a righthanded hitter, figures to compete with fourth-year Twin Jose Miranda for playing time at first base, with Edouard Julien and even Willi Castro mentioned as potential candidates despite virtually no experience at the position. None figures to fully replace the defense of Santana, who won a Gold Glove in his only season with the Twins.

Knowing they would need a roster spot for France, or any other free agent they hoped to sign as camp gets underway, the Twins last week put lefthanded reliever Brent Headrick on waivers.

Perhaps to their surprise, they lost him Tuesday.

The New York Yankees claimed Headrick, who missed nearly all of the 2024 season after suffering a left forearm strain during the season’s first week.

Headrick, 27, has pitched only 28⅔ innings in the major leagues, all in relief, with a 5.97 ERA.

Righthander Ronny Henriquez — who three times last season was called up to the Twins from Class AAA, only to be returned to St. Paul after making just one appearance — became an ex-Twin on Tuesday.

Henriquez, who finally spent six weeks with the Twins after being recalled for a fourth time in mid-August, was claimed by the Miami Marlins on waivers. The 24-year-old rookie, who pitched 31 total innings with a 2.90 ERA for Minnesota in 2022 and 2024, had been designated for assignment last week.

Henriquez is out of options, so the chances of him earning an Opening Day spot in the Twins’ crowded bullpen were considered unlikely.

Twins.TV, the team’s new online broadcaster, began signing up subscribers Tuesday. The streaming service offers live video of each of the Twins’ games (national broadcasts excluded) with no territorial blackouts.

The games are available for $19.99 per month, or $99.99 for the entire season. And MLB is offering a subscription to all 30 teams’ local broadcasts for $199.99 per season — again, blackout-free.

As an added incentive, the Twins are offering fans who subscribe at Twins.TV before April 1 the opportunity to purchase certain tickets to April and May home games at Target Field at a 50% discount.