Ty France, the former Mariner who recently hit free agency, is open to exploring catching opportunities as he receives interest from other teams. Despite never having played the position in an MLB or minor league game, France has shown familiarity with catching during his time with the Padres, where he took reps at the team’s alternate training site in 2020. Although he was considered an emergency catcher for both the Padres and Mariners, he has yet to be given the chance to showcase his skills behind the plate.
At 30 years old and without any in-game catching experience, it is unlikely that France would be anything more than a third catcher or an emergency option. Adapting to the intricacies of receiving and game-calling for regular work at this position would be a significant challenge for him. However, expressing his willingness to explore catching opportunities could potentially benefit France if a team offers him the chance.
The major concern surrounding France is his lack of defensive value. While he has some experience at second and third base, his lack of quickness prevents him from being a regular at either position. In 2024, France primarily played first base but received poor defensive marks there as well. Defensive Runs Saved graded him below average by seven runs, while Statcast estimated him to be nine runs below par.
Despite his defensive struggles, France’s offensive performance was solid for a couple of years. Between the 2020 trade deadline deal that sent him to Seattle and the end of the 2022 season, France boasted an impressive .284/.354/.441 slash line. However, his production dipped in 2023 with a .250/.337/.366 line. This downward trend continued into this year as well when he started off with a disappointing .223/.312/.350 before being designated for assignment by the Mariners. Even after joining Cincinnati and playing at the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park, France only managed a .251/.292/.391 line in 52 games for the Reds.
Both FanGraphs and Baseball Reference graded France’s 2024 performance below replacement level. Consequently, it was no surprise when the Reds decided not to tender him an arbitration contract that would have likely exceeded $8MM. While minor league offers seemed possible for France, Feinsand’s report indicates that there is at least one team willing to offer him an Opening Day job. However, such an opportunity would likely come with a low base salary and potentially include incentives based on his games or plate appearances.
In conclusion, Ty France’s openness to exploring catching opportunities amidst his free agency allows him to embark on a new challenge in his career. Despite lacking experience behind the plate, France’s willingness and dedication could potentially lead to finding success at this position. However, he will need to overcome significant hurdles in order to establish himself as a reliable catcher. With defensive concerns and recent offensive struggles, France will have to prove his value to potential suitors as he looks for a fresh start in the upcoming season.