The Mets’ search for first base help extends all the way to France.
The Mets have touched base with Ty France’s camp, a source familiar with the situation said this weekend, as they hunt for perhaps the only lineup spot they plan to upgrade this offseason.
With a position-player group that is largely filled apart from Pete Alonso’s old position, where the Mets have a lefty-hitting platoon option in Jared Young and a mystery in Jorge Polanco, they appear to be turning over plenty of rocks.
The Athletic reported last week that the Mets met with corner infielder Alec Bohm’s camp at the GM meetings. They are also among the many clubs that have engaged with the representative for France, an excellent defender and righty hitter coming off the best season of his career.
An eight-year journeyman who has played for the Padres, Mariners, Reds, Twins and Blue Jays, France had a disappointing 2025 offensively (.681 OPS) but excelled at first base, where he won a Gold Glove.
Last offseason he had to settle for a minor league deal and did not sign until February with the Padres, with whom he became a true bargain and even received a down-ballot NL MVP vote.
The Mets have touched base with the free-agent first baseman’s camp. Getty Images
A Gold Glove finalist who hit both righties and lefties, France batted .295 with 21 home runs en route to an .865 OPS this past season. Perhaps trading some contact for power — with his exit velocity (89.5 mph to 91.5 mph) and bat speed (71 mph to 72 mph) jumping while his strikeout percentage (16.9 percent to 21.6 percent) ticked up — France consistently hit the ball harder and in the air more.
Ahead of his age-32 season, France likely will receive a multiyear major league deal this time around.
With Jake Bauers off the board, France and Bohm are likely the best first basemen still on the free agent market (with the possible exception of Teruaki Sato, whose position is up for debate). It is possible that the Mets will need an answer from Tarik Skubal, with whom they are set to meet next week, before determining whether they will play at the top of the first base market.
The Mets, who have their outfield and left side of the infield set and will give Marcus Semien a chance to earn second base playing time in camp, only have first base and arguably DH as lineup spots in which they could bring in immediate outside help.
“I do expect us to supplement that [first base] position,” Stearns said at the GM Meetings, adding that they could add a righty bat to complement Young or seek a player who would command everyday playing time at the spot, in which case Young likely would become the usual designated hitter.
Ty France fields a ground ball against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 25, 2026. France won a Gold Glove at first base this past season. Getty Images
The unknown in this equation is Polanco, who was either injured or ineffective all of last season and underwent left ankle surgery in August.
“Polanco’s rehab so far is going very well,” Stearns said, adding that the team would have to see how he looks in spring training — whenever that is — before determining his role.
Apart from Bohm and France, the righty-hitting Paul Goldschmidt also could make sense for the Mets.
If not free agency, the Mets — who acquired many prospects at last season’s trade deadline and could deal from that depth — could target first basemen such as St. Louis’ Alec Burleson, Detroit’s Spencer Torkelson or Texas’ Jake Burger on the trade market.