When it comes to the Eric Hosmer situation in San Diego, many fans are frustrated with Hosmer and his remaining $59 million contract essentially blocking the front office from being able to acquire an All-Star caliber first baseman. But this first base situation wouldn’t be as bad if Ty France, who was traded to Seattle at the 2020 trade deadline in the Austin Nola deal, was still on the roster.
France would be a positive in two ways. Hosmer’s contract wouldn’t be viewed as the reason why the Padres couldn’t improve their offense from the first base position and thus the Padres would have a better starting first baseman or they’d have their designated hitter (assuming that the universal DH is implemented for the 2022 season).