We’re into February which means we will soon be hearing the siren call of warmer weather, and, really, that can’t get here fast enough. The Yankees are just 10 days away from their first pitchers-and-catchers workout, and their first spring games will take place in less than two weeks.
But there is still work to be done on the roster, and the team is seeking to add another piece to give depth at first base and in the infield. To that end, there has been interest expressed in one of the remaining free agents on the market, Ty France, who spent last season with Minnesota and the Blue Jays, and appeared in two of Toronto’s World Series games.
According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, the Yankees are one of several teams that has made a push to land France.
As reported last night, Diamondbacks are in on Carlos Santana as a free agent 1B target,” Cotillo wrote on Twitter/X. “They’ve also talked to Ty France, per source, though France has a robust market. Mets and Yankees have been involved with him, plus Padres and others. That market is moving.”
Yankees Also Considering Outfield Help
The Yankees have also shown interest in adding a right-handed outfielder to give the lineup some more balance. That includes Austin Slater, who batted .120 in 14 games for the Yankees after arriving from the White Sox in a deadline trade. Slater was offered a major-league contract, according to multiple reports.
The Yankees have switch-hitting Jasson Dominguez as their fourth outfielder now but he favors the left side of the plate dramatically. Prospect Spencer Jones is in the wings, but is another lefty.
France would represent a Plan B, away from the Yankees tinkering with the outfield. He is a Gold Glove winner at first base, which is certainly a factor in his market, and he has played second and third base in his career, though he is almost strictly a first baseman now.
France has not shown the kind of pop he did in Seattle, when he hit 18 and 20 homers in 2021 and 2022 (he was an All-Star that year), but he remains a solid professional who would bolster the roster.
GettyAustin Slater #29 of the New York Yankees
Ty France Could Platoon at First Base
Indeed, the Yankees might not add another outfielder at all and instead could focus on first base, where Ben Rice could platoon and also play some catcher. The New York Post reported last week that the Yankees could bring back 38-year-old veteran Paul Goldschmidt as a platoon option, after he hit .274 with a .731 OPS in 2025.
Per The Athletic, “The Yankees might also be considering a righty hitter who can play first base to pair with Ben Rice, a lefty hitter. In early December, manager Aaron Boone said he expected Rice to play ‘a lot’ versus lefties following his strong 2025 season (.255 average, 26 home runs, 65 RBIs, .836 OPS).
“But the Yankees might prefer to occasionally use him at catcher or to rest him against lefties. Last season, they had righty-hitting first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who remains a free agent.”
Yankees Pursuing Gold-Glove Former All-Star: Report