Winter is slowly giving way to baseball season in New York, and with spring training almost here, the New York Yankees are entering a crucial stretch of decision-making, especially as they fine-tune a roster that still feels incomplete.
Pitchers and catchers are preparing to report, and fans are already looking ahead to Grapefruit League games. However, behind the scenes, the front office remains active, searching for depth and flexibility.
One area drawing particular attention is first base and the wider infield picture, where injuries, rotation, and inconsistency forced constant adjustments throughout last season.
As a result, executives have begun exploring veteran options, and one name consistently appearing in discussions is Ty France, a former Seattle Mariners standout and respected defender.
France, who split time between the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays last season, has quietly built strong interest around the league, with several contenders monitoring his availability closely.
According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, New York has already made contact, placing itself among a competitive group of suitors.
“As reported last night, Arizona 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. New York Mets and New York Yankees have been involved with him, plus San Diego Padres and others. That market is moving.”
For the Yankees, France represents more than a backup plan, as his Gold Glove credentials and steady approach align with a team that values reliability in high-pressure moments.
Although his power output has dipped since his peak years in Seattle, when he regularly cleared 20 home runs, his plate discipline and defensive consistency remain valuable assets.
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Meanwhile Aaron Judge continues to serve as the foundation of New York’s identity, and every offseason move is evaluated through the lens of maximizing his remaining prime years.
Very few players in history have maintained elite production into their mid-thirties, making Judge’s recent stretch one of the most remarkable in modern baseball.
After injuries disrupted earlier seasons, he rebounded in historic fashion in 2022 and followed it with multiple MVP-caliber campaigns that redefined expectations.
Aaron Judge Offensive Production (2022-2025)
Since that breakthrough, Judge has consistently masked weaknesses elsewhere on the roster, often carrying lineups that lacked balance or depth.
However, league insiders caution that relying too heavily on one superstar is risky, especially as physical demands accumulate over time.
“They’ll probably always be fine because they always are,” said one National League executive, according to the New York Post‘s Dan Martin. “But Judge is a once-in-a-lifetime player on a streak I don’t think we thought we’d see again after the steroid era.
“He’s already done things we’ve never really seen, but it can’t go on forever. He hit 62 homers and then got better, so maybe he won’t fall off like other guys his age.
“But I don’t think you can plan on it. Look, he’s still maybe the best hitter in the game. Next year or the next? Who knows?”
Those concerns explain why depth additions like France carry added importance, offering protection if Judge’s availability or output fluctuates.
With spring games approaching, internal evaluations will soon determine whether current options are sufficient, or if further moves become necessary.
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