This season the Twins opted against running it back and instead tabbed Ty France as their starting first baseman. They paid him just $1 million and opened the door to constant playing time. Ultimately he got traded to the Toronto Blue Jays during the deadline fire sale, but that never impacted his defense.

Ty France wins first Gold Glove

Traditionally Gold Glove awards have been given to players that are assumed as good defenders while also producing offensively. That has shifted in recent seasons, and a more analytical lens has been placed on actual defensive stalwarts. Ty France did his part with the leather all season and is now being awarded for his efforts.

Your 2025 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winner – AL First Base – Ty France#RawlingsGoldGloveAwards pic.twitter.com/ZEiQoB88dl

— Rawlings Baseball (@RawlingsSports) November 3, 2025

France played 101 games with Minnesota before playing his final 37 of the season with Toronto. He batted just .257/.320/.360, but his defense rated highly all year. Although there were certain periods where the eye test didn’t agree, France consistently made the routine plays and then executed the more difficult ones as well.

Despite moving him, the Twins can claim France’s Gold Glove award as another in their history. His achievement makes it consecutive seasons after Santana picked one up last year. He becomes the 16th Gold Glove winner in Twins history, and joins Santana, Doug Mientkiewicz, and Vic Power as winners at first base.

What a play by Ty France 😳 pic.twitter.com/6SMwTghZow

— MLB (@MLB) May 25, 2025

When France was named a finalist, Santana was in the group with him. It seemed uncertain as to who would win the award. France was also fighting against new teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but his metrics paced the trio. He posted 9 DRS (defensive runs saved), 10 OAA (outs above average), and 7 FRV (fielding run value).

Joe Mauer should have won a Gold Glove in 2017, but had the award taken from him by Eric Hosmer for the assumed defense and positive offensive output. Had Mauer won, he would have been the third player to ever win a Gold Glove at multiple positions, joining Placido Polanco and Darin Erstad.

Last season the Twins saw Carlos Santana win his first Gold Glove award. They don’t have anyone that was certain to be in consideration this year, but there are plenty of players with ties that have made the list as finalists.

Carlos Santana and Ty France named Gold Glove finalists

Carlos Santana signed with the Cleveland Guardians this year and brought the same impressive defense to the table. Unfortunately he cratered offensively and was designated for assignment before landing with the Chicago Cubs. Ty France took over his role with the Minnesota Twins, and was ultimately sent to the Toronto Blue Jays in the Louie Varland trade.

Santana is looking to follow up his first Gold Glove award with a second one. France is hoping to land his first. Only one of them can actually take home the hardware.

The American League @RawlingsSports Gold Glove Finalists 🤩

Winners will be announced on Sunday, November 2nd on @ESPN pic.twitter.com/iwxWobzVt5

— MLB (@MLB) October 15, 2025

Both Santana and France are competing against Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to be named the Gold Glove winner at first base. Of course France is now teammates with him, and that brings a whole different slant into the equation. The numbers can help to paint a clearer picture though.

The advanced metrics make it pretty clear who was the most valuable defensively. That’s not always how the award is determined though. Brian Dozier won a Gold Glove in 2017 because he hit 34 home runs. The second base defense was below average, but offensive performance factored in heavily.

Voters have gotten better at identifying true defensive talent, and that’s reflected in both Santana and France being finalists. They posted a 77 OPS+ and 88 OPS+ respectively. Their offensive production, or lack thereof, didn’t hold back consideration.

Realistically it looks like France should win his first Gold Glove, but the margin over Santana and his second seems razor thin. Either way, a former Twins first baseman has to be considered the frontrunner.

Former Twins prospect Spencer Steer is a finalist at first base in the National League for the Reds. Winners will be announced on November 2nd.

Having already made a plethora of moves, the Twins president of baseball operations sent two more relievers packing as the clock struck zero.

Griffin Jax and Louie Varland both have new homes. That means Minnesota sent out a whopping five of their eight relievers to new teams prior to the deadline.

Griffin Jax goes from MN Twins to Tampa Bay Rays

It was expected that Griffin Jax could be traded along with closer Jhoan Duran. The latter went first to the Philadelphia Phillies. The former was held onto until the waning seconds, but he’s now headed to the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Minnesota Twins are getting Taj Bradley in the Griffin Jax deal, per source,

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2025

Jax is 30 years old and under team control through 2027. He is making just $2.37 million this season, and despite a gaudy 4.50 ERA, he owns a 2.00 FIP and has been as dominant as ever.

With a 1.5 fWAR, Jax has the best mark among Twins relievers, and is actually above the 1.3 fWAR owned by Jhoan Duran. The tally makes him the 5th-best reliever in baseball by fWAR.

The Rays sent Taj Bradley to the Minnesota Twins. He’s a former fifth round pick (2018) and was a top 25 prospect in baseball as recently as 2023.

Taj Bradley's 7th K pic.twitter.com/EDk6q7Z559

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 12, 2025

Bradley has made 69 appearances (67 starts) across three seasons at the big league level for the Rays. The numbers haven’t worked in his favor yet, though. He owns just a 4.70 ERA (4.33 FIP) and his 9.6 K/9 has been watered down by a 3.3 BB/9 and 1.5 HR/9.

Related: Twins Move Lefty Reliever Danny Coulombe to Texas Rangers

Minnesota will look to push his development towards the player that owns a 2.90 ERA across 366 1/3 minor league innings. Bradley is not arbitration eligible until 2027 and is under team control through 2030.

Blue Jays grab Varland and France from MN Twins

It wasn’t just Jax that was traded up against the deadline. Louie Varland and Ty France both found themselves headed elsewhere, and they’ll need their passports to get there.

LHP Kendrys Rojas and OF Alan Roden are going to Minnesota, per source. #BlueJays https://t.co/7oB4MSdbli

— Mitch Bannon (@MitchBannon) July 31, 2025

The Varland inclusion is an interesting one. Toronto was in the market for a leverage bullpen arm, and after missing out on other options, they apparently approached Minnesota about the remade starter. Ty France had little value as a first baseman with an 86 OPS+, but his $1 million contract was easy to throw in.

It’s jarring to see the Minnesota-native Varland, who’s under team control through 2031, leave. He owns a 2.02 ERA (2.89 FIP) this season and has been used a ridiculous 51 times already. A true development story, that one should sting a bit.

Kendrys Rojas is a left-handed pitcher and the fifth best prospect in the Blue Jays organization per MLB Pipeline. The 22-year-old Cuban reached Triple-A this season. He has 11 appearances (10 starts) across four levels in 2025 and owns a 3.46 ERA. In 252 2/3 minor league innings he has a 3.31 ERA with a 10.6 K/9.

Related: MN Twins Shock the World: Carlos Correa Back to Astros

Alan Roden is a Wisconsin-native that made his big league debut this season. He was third-round pick out of Creighton in 2022. The left-handed outfielder has a .204/.283/.306 slash line in 43 big league games this year. In 32 games with Triple-A Buffalo he owns a .918 OPS, and he has an .866 OPS across 298 total minor league games.

Entering Friday, the Twins trail the Detroit Tigers by six games in the AL Central, but if the season ended today, they’d be a playoff team (WC2). Just like most other teams, this time of year, Minnesota is far from a perfect team.

Team president Derek Falvey — who now runs both the baseball and business sides of the organization — still has a couple months before the Major League Baseball July 31 trade deadline hits. That’s exactly two months and one day for the Minnesota Twins to make themselves better.

It remains to be seen how much the active selling of the team might impact the Pohlads’ willingness to add talent between now and July 31. Will they play it cheap, as to not put the organization into a deeper financial hole than it already is? Or, could they use the deadline to add talent that might help them net a playoff run able to woo buyers.

But if ownership is willing to play ball, there are certainly avenues for the MN Twins to get better.

The Minnesota Twins need more from first base.

This offseason the Twins opted against paying an aging Carlos Santana more money, after he won a Gold Glove in 2024. Now back in Cleveland, Santana is giving the Guardians exactly what he did Minnesota last season — a high-end defensive first baseman whose 2025 slash line of .254/.363/.384 (114 OPS+) looks very similar to his career numbers.

To replace Santana, Falvey hit the open market, where he found Ty France on the clearance rack for a miniscule $1 million. While he has been worth that underwhelming salary, his overall production has left plenty to be desired.

TY FRANCE!!!!! WALK-OFF HOME RUN!!!! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/fEUPS0OSiw

— Twins.TV (@twinstv) May 24, 2025

Let’s start with the positives. France has already racked up 30 RBI, which reflects just how good he has been in the clutch. With runners in scoring position this season, France has a .382 batting average and .843 OPS.

Without runners on, however, Ty France has struggled, slashing a brutal .225/.295/.351 (.606 OPS). Smash those together and France’s underwhelming .677 OPS and 91 OPS+ isn’t good enough.

Related: Pohlads Want Us to Believe MN Twins Sale is “Closer to the End”

Yes, France was worth the minimum investment Minnesota made in him, but if the Twins want to be a real contender in the AL, they need more out of that right corner infield spot. The 30-year-old seven-year veteran was signed as an insurance policy for the Minnesota Twins at first base.

At the time, they hoped either Jose Miranda or Edouard Julien would cement themselves into the lineup as much more than what France has been. Instead, both guys are in the minor leagues. That means, if the Twins want more out of first base, they’ll have to hit the open market.

How about we finally get that right-handed bat for the outfield?

It took time and a bunch of injuries for Carson McCusker to get his first big league opportunity. Once he did get his call up, the 6’7″ right-handed giant of an outfielder was used only sparingly, before he was optioned back to triple A earlier this week.

Clearly, McCusker wasn’t the answer Minnesota was looking for in the outfield. In fact, they never really gave him an opportunity to crush MLB pitchers like he has in the minors all spring. Instead, if the Twins want to add a right-handed outfield bat to help power them to the playoffs, they’ll need to find it on the trade market.

When the roster is healthy, the right-handed hitting Byron Buxton is flanked by combinations of Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, Willi Castro and Harrison Bader. Castro is a switch-hitter, but he plays more infield than outfield.

Bader — who is having a career year offensively, slashing .276/.359/.433 (122 OPS+) — is the only righty hitter among that regular corner outfield group. The Twins signed the soon-to-be 31-year-old, not for his prowess at the plate, but for his incredible defense, which has paid off multiple times already this season.

A ridiculous play by Harrison Bader and Joe Ryan loves it! pic.twitter.com/rAk8vFRxVf

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 27, 2025

But this is the first time he has ever been a positive asset offensively. Can the MN Twins really trust him to keep it going for the next four months? Seems awfully risky. History tells us not to hold our breath on the Twins bringing in more outfield helpt, however.

Related: Young Minnesota Twins Star Down on His Luck and Confidence

Since Rocco Baldelli took over as manager, the Minnesota Twins have needed a bigger right-handed threat in the corner outfield. Yet, for years, Falvey has never had much interest in addressing it.

If this is they year he finally moves on addressing that weakness, there should be plenty of options available. Every MLB trade deadline, the market is flooded with corner outfielders and relief pitchers. We’ll see if the Twins decide to take a swing this time around…

One more arm for the MN Twins bullpen… please?

The Minnesota Twins have one of baseball’s best bullpens. Really, the pitching staff as a whole has been incredible. There isn’t a ton of room to replace arms with the potential to generate upside.

However, there are always relievers available on the trade market and shoring up the underbelly of the bullpen makes sense. Danny Coulombe was placed on the injured list largely due to what he attributed to his age. Kody Funderburk has taken over the left-handed reliever role, but has given up nine runs on 14 hits in just nine innings.

Danny Coulombe is a big loss for the #MNTwins bullpen.

In addition to having a 0.00 ERA in 16 2/3 innings, Coulombe also stranded 10 of 12 runners he inherited from other pitchers to save their ERA.

Coulombe is second to Jhoan Duran in Win Probability Added for Twins relievers.

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) May 18, 2025

There isn’t an immediately logical option on the farm to promote as either a left-handed reliever, or bullpen arm as a whole. Jorge Alcala is definitely the low man on the totem pole in the bullpen, and he owns a 6.52 ERA (4.05 FIP). He has given up just one run over his last six outings (7 IP), but always seems like just a pitch or two away from disaster.

Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax have been arguably the best one-two punch this season. If there’s a way to add another leverage arm among the group of Cole Sands, Brock Stewart, and Louie Varland, then Minnesota should do it.

He has previously been an All-Star, but was anything but last season. His deal is for just $1 million, and is only guaranteed if he makes the big league roster. Apparently he’s going to do even more than that.

Minnesota Twins are all-in on Ty France

A week ago the MN Twins were considering shortstop depth. That seems to be because they were considering the usage of Willi Castro at first base. Now they have Ty France and Rocco Baldelli doesn’t intend to play anyone else there.

“He’s going to play a lot. That’s really the best way of saying it. The kind of hitter that he is, this isn’t a platoon situation. I think he’s going to play. He’s a good, natural hitter. He’s made a name for himself in this game by going out there and just using the whole field, hitting a lot of line drives. Perfect for everything we’ve talked about going into this year for our team and the desires for our team, putting together good at-bats. At his core, that’s what he is.”

Rocco Baldelli on Ty France (Star Tribune)

Calling Ty France an all-star is objectively true, but it happened just one time back in 2022. Last season France was traded by the Seattle Mariners to the Cincinnati Reds, and slashed just .234/.305/.365 across 140 games.

Ty France blasts a home run and the Reds take the lead over Houston in the seventh inning!

France has NINE hits this series! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/xVugVwchje

— FanDuel Sports Network Cincinnati (@FanDuelSN_CIN) September 5, 2024

The offensive output was the worst mark of his career. Only during a 69-game rookie debut with the San Diego Padres did he post a lower OPS+ (84) than he had last season (92).

Related: Twins Add Veteran to Crowded Bullpen Competition

It is understandable offensively that Baldelli wouldn’t need to platoon his new first baseman. Over the course of his career, France has a .741 OPS against righties and a .753 OPS against southpaws. As a right-handed hitter, he also breaks up some of the lefties that sprinkle into Minnesota’s lineup.

Defense is the question for Twins and France

It’s entirely plausible that France winds up finding himself again offensively. He’s entering his seventh big league season and has a track record of being an above-average offensive performer. Unfortunately he was one of the worst defensive first baseman in baseball last season.

He suffered a heel fracture that definitely played a part, but the Twins are gambling on just how much of a part it played.

“When you don’t have a foot, it’s hard to do things. I don’t want to put all the blame on that. There was a lot that went into it.”

France to Bobby Nightengale on his 2024 (Star Tribune)

Across 1,105 innings at first base last season, France posted a career-worst -7 DRS (defensive runs saved). He also had a putrid -12 OAA (outs above average.) The guy he’s replacing, Gold Glove winner Carlos Santana, was worth 8 DRS and 14 OAA last season.

2023 wasn’t good for France by DRS measures either as he was worth the same -7 mark. Outside of that, he has rated average to slightly above defensively. If his heel is healthy, then he has a significant chance to be a much better player.

It’s a bit odd to see the Twins operate on this hope. Last year the club was 25th in DRS and 17th in OAA. More time from Carlos Correa will help. Harrison Bader is lightyears better than Manuel Margot. Still though, the infield defense could be an issue.

Group including Ty France, Willi Castro, Jose Miranda and Edouard Julien did some first base work on the half field. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/9KZuOzwRgk

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) February 15, 2025

Minnesota is going to have France as their starter, but they’re breaking in new fits like Willi Castro and Edouard Julien already. Jose Miranda is the presumed backup, but he isn’t great with the glove either.

Related: MN Twins Suddenly Out on Adding Shortstop… and Any Other MLB Free Agents

If this is going to work out, then the offense better find a way to be consistent and the pitching staff needs to hum. France has a chance to make a lot of money with the Twins this season. It also could crash and burn.

Ty France signs with Minnesota Twins

Although Minnesota is still reportedly looking to add shortstop depth, it was the first baseman position that seemed the most unsettled. On Tuesday, they settled those 1B questions by signing former MLB All-Star Ty France to a one-year contract.

Twins have signed former Mariners All-Star IF (mostly 1B) Ty France to a one-year contract. Pending physical. Takes Headrick’s roster spot, and is an interesting addition to 1B mix. .813 OPS in 2021.

— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) February 11, 2025

It was surprising to see left-handed relief pitcher Brent Headrick designated signed by the Yankees, since nobody knew he had ever been DFA’d by the Minnesota Twins in the first place. When that head-scratcher revealed itself earlier in the day, it was worth wondering if another move was coming.

Minutes later, the France signing broke. Now, Rocco Baldelli’s 2025 roster looks quite a bit different than it did just a few days ago. Until now, the plan at first base was still up in the air. Jose Miranda seemed the most likely option to take over for former Gold Glove winner Carlos Santana, but Edouard Julien was a plausible option too.

Jose Miranda posted terrible defensive metrics at first base in nearly 600 innings as a rookie two years ago. That makes it all the more shocking that Minnesota went with France, who has even worse numbers.

What are the Twins getting in France?

The former Mariners and Reds first baseman owned a -8 DRS (defensive runs saved) and -12 OAA (outs above average) last season. Those were the worst marks of his career, and he hasn’t really been a defensive asset since 2021. Arguably some of that was tied to a heel fracture last season.

Ty France blasts a home run and the Reds take the lead over Houston in the seventh inning!

France has NINE hits this series! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/xVugVwchje

— FanDuel Sports Network Cincinnati (@FanDuelSN_CIN) September 5, 2024

France owned a 127 OPS+ between 2020-2022 but he slashed just .234/.305/.365 last season with the Mariners and Reds. He’s not exactly a power hitter with 20 home runs as the high-water mark. While he doesn’t strike out a ton, he also doesn’t walk much either.

It’s a one-year deal for France with the Twins, meaning the future at first base remains uncertain. Top prospect Luke Keaschall played a bit of first base in the minors last summer. The aforementioned Julien, or even Royce Lewis could find a future home there.

Related: 2025 Minnesota Twins Opening Day Roster Projection (1.0)

Minnesota needs to be a much better team defensively this season. It’s hard to imagine France contributing to that pursuit. Miranda should still push him for playing time, but the veteran is clearly now the favorite to start.

The Twins haven’t had a regular first baseman since Joe Mauer, and even he was miscast for the role. It’s often a position that is seen as a fallback option. Still, the organization needs someone with a level of longevity to fall into the role.