Ty France Returns to Padres on Minor League Deal, Espinal Heads to Dodgers

San Diego Padres have re-acquired first baseman Ty France on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, while former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Santiago Espinal has signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

France Back in San Diego

Ty France, 31, begins a new chapter with the Padres, the organization that originally drafted him in 2015. He spent parts of two seasons with San Diego in 2019 and 2020 before being traded to the Seattle Mariners. The Athletic’s Dennis Lin first reported the agreement on February 16, 2026.

Last season, France split time between the Minnesota Twins and the Toronto Blue Jays, ultimately appearing in 138 games and batting .257 with seven home runs and 52 RBIs. He earned his first Gold Glove Award at first base in 2025 according to Blue Jays Nation. He also saw limited action in the World Series with the Blue Jays, going 1-for-4 with an RBI against the Los Angeles Dodgers as reported by Sportsnet.

France’s best season came with the Mariners in 2022, where he was an All-Star and hit 18 home runs MLB.com reports. Over 840 career MLB games with five different teams, France has a .262 batting average and 81 home runs.

Espinal Signs with Dodgers

Santiago Espinal, also 31, will glance for a new opportunity with the Dodgers after a challenging 2025 season with the Cincinnati Reds. He posted a .243 batting average in 114 games Blue Jays Central.

Espinal spent four seasons with the Blue Jays, including an All-Star appearance in 2022, before being traded to the Reds. He has a career .261 batting average in 578 major league games.