Guardians finally show interest in another free agent with link to Blue Jays Gold Glove 1B originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cleveland Guardians offseason has been a very lackluster one. While they’ve managed to extend Jose Ramirez for the next seven years, which is great, they’ve not built a good roster around him.

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While there are some interesting prospects and fun players expected to get larger roles this upcoming season, the Guardians roster isn’t nearly in as good a spot as it should be for the AL Central division winner from 2025.

Fortunately, according to Chris Cotillo of Masslive.com, the Guardians are finally showing interest in another free agent. Cleveland is reportedly interested in Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Ty France in free agency.

Guardians finally show interest in another FA in Ty France

“San Diego added Andujar but has been in the mix for France, too,” Cotillo reports. “Two others in on France: Cleveland and Colorado.”

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While the Guardians are finally showing interest in a free agent, in first baseman Ty Fracen, they aren’t the only club interested in the Gold Glove All-Star.

The Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres both have interest. France has a few suitors, and the Guardians are one of them.

He’s a 31-year-old who won the Gold Glove award for first baseman this past season in a split year between the Minnesota Twins and the Blue Jays.

That 2025 season, his 7th in the Major Leagues, had France finish with 1.0 bWAR thanks to a sub-par .257 batting average and .681 OPS in 138 games.

He had 114 hits, 25 doubles, seven home runs, and 52 total RBIs. While he wasn’t the worst player by any means, his calling card is his defense at first base.

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More: MLB Hot Stove tracker: Live updates on news, rumors, signings and trades for 2025 free agency

With Carlos Santana off the roster, the Guardians’ projected first baseman is Kyle Manzardo. While he could take over that role, the Guardians could add France as a defensive upgrade, moving Manzardo to designated hitter.

That would allow the Guardians to move C.J. Kayfus to the outfield again and shift things around for platoon advantages if needed.

But, before getting ahead of this, the Guardians still need to actually commit and sign a free agent this offseason. They’ve only signed one player this offseason, and it was backup catcher Austin Hedges.

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France has a chance to be the first outside free agent the Guardians sign to the Major League roster this offseason.

Cotillo’s report is worth keeping in mind as the offseason continues to move along, as France might be an option for the Guardians at some point this offseason.

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