Ty France on 2022 goals, Mariners needing ‘a couple of key pieces’

The Mariners won 90 games in 2021 despite an overall lackluster season at the plate, but that was certainly no fault of Ty France.

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France, who the Mariners acquired at the 2020 trade deadline, played in his first full MLB season and did what he did all throughout college and the minors, which is hit.

In 152 games while playing first and second base and occasionally DHing, France slashed .291/.368/.445 with 18 home runs and 73 RBIs. He also led the Mariners in WAR with 4.3.

France is slated to be the Mariners’ everyday first baseman next year, and he has very high hopes for the team in 2022 and himself after a great 2021.

“Coming into the season, I think there was very little pressure on us, because we weren’t expected to do much this year,” France told 710 ESPN Seattle’s Mike Salk on Tuesday. “So we kind of just tried to make the best of it. It turned into a fun group of guys having a good time out there and playing their best baseball and, you know, kind of shocked the world a little bit and had a lot of fun with it.”

The Mariners may have shocked the world en route to a 90-win campaign, but they fell just short of a playoff berth. Now, all eyes are on Seattle and whether or not it will land big names this offseason. France seems to think that will be the case, and that’s certainly what he’s hoping for.

“I’m pretty sure he’s got that under control, but they make it sound like they’re gonna go out and spend big this offseason, which I think is needed,” France said when asked what his message to president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto would be. “Go grab a couple big-time players, a couple veteran guys, and we’re gonna be in a good spot.”

France said that the Mariners aren’t missing too many pieces with the bullpen being a strength and the team having some great players in the lineup and starting rotation as well.

“We just need a couple of key pieces and it should be a good year for us next year,” he said.

In terms of free agency, a team may have strong interest in a player, but it must be reciprocated on the other side as well for a deal to get done. France shared his Mariners free-agent “sales pitch” for any player who may be considering signing with Seattle.

“Last season what we did kind of spoke for itself. We didn’t have any like ‘wow’ players and we won 90 games, so if we can get that ‘wow’ player or two, who knows how far we’ll be able to go,” he said. “We’re an up and coming group. It’s a lot of fun over here. We have a good time and one or two key pieces could help us.”

And for France, he expects to help carry the torch alongside any new additions next year after his strong 2021 season.

“I’m trying to basically repeat what I did last year,” he said. “I felt like I had a really good year last year and if I can knock out that 10-day IL window and just play 162 (games) healthy, that’s one of my main goals and kind of try and be a sparkplug for this team.”

Listen to the full interview at this link or in the player below.

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