France, thirty-one, arrives in camp fresh off a 2025 season where he earned his first career Gold Glove Award while splitting time between the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays. Despite his defensive accolades, France is looking to bounce back offensively after posting a two hundred and fifty-seven batting average with seven home runs last season. His familiarity with the San Diego environment and his newfound defensive reliability make him a strong candidate for a bench role, particularly as a late-inning defensive replacement or a platoon option at first base.

Ty France Returns to His Professional Roots

The reunion with Ty France is a nostalgic move for a Padres fan base that watched him develop from a San Diego State standout into a Major League contributor. Since being traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2020, France has evolved into an All-Star caliber player, peaking in 2022 with twenty home runs and eighty-three RBIs. His return provides the Padres with a “professional hitter” profile that the front office believes can stabilize the bottom half of the lineup if he successfully makes the Opening Day roster.

Under the terms of his minor league agreement, France will reportedly earn a salary of one point three-five million dollars if he is promoted to the active twenty-six-man roster. He enters a crowded competition for playing time at first base and the designated hitter spot, battling alongside recent signings like Nick Castellanos and Miguel Andujar. Given his ability to play both corner infield positions, France’s versatility may give him a slight edge over more specialized offensive threats during the final weeks of spring training.

Walker Buehler Joins the Rotation Battle

In perhaps the most high-profile minor league signing of the winter, the Padres have taken a “lottery ticket” flyer on right-hander Walker Buehler. The thirty-one-year-old former Dodgers ace has struggled to find his elite form since undergoing a second Tommy John surgery in 2022. After a disappointing stint with the Boston Red Sox in 2025, where he posted a five point four-five ERA, Buehler showed flashes of his former self during a late-season run with the Philadelphia Phillies, allowing just one run over thirteen and two-thirds innings.

Buehler now enters a wide-open competition for the fifth spot in the Padres’ starting rotation. He will face off against other veteran non-roster invitees, including Triston McKenzie and Marco Gonzales, as well as internal options like Matt Waldron. For Buehler, signing with a division rival like San Diego offers a chance for redemption against his former club, provided his elbow can withstand the rigors of a full starter’s workload during the Grapefruit League schedule.

Strategic Depth in a Crowded NL West

The decision to stack the roster with high-ceiling veterans on minor league deals is a hallmark of A.J. Preller’s “churn and burn” roster management strategy. By bringing in players like France and Buehler without guaranteeing them roster spots or major league salaries, the Padres have created a high-stakes environment in Peoria. This approach allows the coaching staff to evaluate proven talent against younger prospects, ensuring that only the most productive players occupy valuable space on the forty-man roster.

This influx of depth is particularly crucial given the injuries currently plaguing the Padres’ pitching staff. With Yu Darvish expected to miss the entire 2026 season and Jhony Brito sidelined for at least the first two months, the need for reliable arms is at an all-time high. If Buehler can recapture even seventy-five percent of his pre-surgery dominance, he could provide the Padres with one of the most cost-effective pitching rotations in the National League.

Contract Opt-outs and Spring Training Stakes

Because both France and Buehler are veterans with significant service time, their minor league contracts likely include specific “opt-out” dates. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, players of their stature who sign minor league deals can typically request their release if they are not added to the major league roster by a certain date, often just before Opening Day. This creates a “use it or lose it” scenario for the Padres, who must decide by late March if these veterans fit their vision for the 2026 campaign.

For Buehler, these opt-outs are expected to be a major factor in his spring progression. If he performs well but finds himself blocked by other starters, he could trigger a clause to seek a major league opportunity elsewhere. This puts the pressure on the Padres to either commit to him early or risk losing a potential mid-rotation piece to a competitor. The next six weeks will be a critical audition for both players as they attempt to prove their careers are far from over.

Finalizing the 2026 Opening Day Vision

The signings of France and Buehler appear to be the final pieces of the puzzle for a Padres team that has been remarkably active in February. The recent additions of Nick Castellanos and German Marquez, combined with the extension of GM A.J. Preller’s contract, signal an organization that is “all-in” for the current window. While the big-name stars like Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. remain the face of the franchise, the success of the 2026 season may ultimately hinge on whether “low-risk” signings like France and Buehler can deliver “high-reward” performances.

As players report to Peoria this week, the narrative will center on these veteran comeback stories. Whether it’s France returning to the city where he became a pro or Buehler trying to shut down the Dodgers in pinstripes, the drama of the Padres’ spring training is just beginning. San Diego fans will be watching closely to see if these two “stars of the past” can help lead the Friars to a championship in the future.