close
close

Mariners’ Ty France plays for his future in Seattle

As the Seattle Mariners play for their playoff lives in 2024, first baseman Ty France may be playing for his baseball future. At the very least, he’s playing for his Mariners future.

Let’s take a look at the situations that both France and the Mariners faced, using this post about “X” as background.

According to Fangraphs, France is one of the least valuable players in the American League since May 1. He has a WAR of -0.1 and a batting average of .218 with an OPS of .678.

Simply put, Ty France was an All-Star in the first half of 2022. First base is a productive position, and France isn’t exactly productive. For the season, he’s hitting .226 with eight homers and 31 RBI. He has an OPS+ of 96, which is considered below average.

While France is a nice guy and has been a cornerstone of the M’s since 2020, he just can’t get it done. He doesn’t hit for great average, doesn’t hit for great power, doesn’t run well, and isn’t an elite defender. When you do everything “average” and nothing “very well,” you’re just not that valuable, especially as you get older and start making more money.

France is making $6.78 million in arbitration this year. He’s expected to make more in 2025, and for a (seemingly) cash-strapped team like the Mariners, that amount of money for so little production is simply not sustainable.

1) The Mariners can pay France more through arbitration next year, keep him and hope he finds his 2022 form.

2) The Mariners could tender him a contract and attempt to trade him in the offseason, allowing them to squeeze some more value out of the situation.

3) The Mariners can’t tender him, meaning they don’t pay him and they don’t trade him. He would simply become a free agent.

4) The Mariners can now try to trade him to improve the offense. Could the M’s send France elsewhere to open up the roster a bit? If they want to keep Luke Raley at first base and acquire another OF, moving France would be enough. If they want to acquire a first baseman, moving France would be enough, but will another team address the issues mentioned above?

The M’s top prospect Tyler Locklear is currently playing at Triple-A. We saw him briefly this year when France was injured and he showed flashes of his tremendous power. If the M’s want to move on from France, they have Locklear ready to go. And if he struggles, they’re not in a much worse position than they are now – and they’re in that position for a lot less.

The Mariners play the Astros on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. PT.

NEW PODCAST EPISODE IS OUT: Episode 4 of the “Refuse to Lose” podcast is out now! In this episode, we discuss how the Mariners can beat the Astros, what not to do in the series, Andres Munoz not making the All-Star Game, and more, including our interview with Bryant Robinson, who directed the Julio Rodriguez documentary that recently aired on FS1. CLICK HERE:

CHEERS TO GENO: Congratulations are in order for former Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who reached a major career milestone this week. CLICK HERE:

WHY WOO? Manager Scott Servais explained why Bryan Woo will pitch on Sunday and not Logan Gilbert. CLICK HERE:

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobradyYou can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE:

Related Posts