Padres’ Ty France reunion hinges on a clear plan for Gavin Sheets

We can welcome Ty France back with open arms. Immediately after, it’s okay to ask where Gavin Sheets is supposed to play. It should be one of the first questions the Padres answer this winter. Bringing France back would settle first base. It would also push a decision onto DH, the bench and whatever plans San Diego has to improve its offense.

Those jobs belong in the same conversation. A.J. Preller needs to build a lineup, and every familiar name he keeps affects the room available for somebody better.

France earned serious consideration. His return to San Diego became a substantial success well before the offseason arrived. By late August, he had taken over as the everyday first baseman and led Padres hitters with at least 300 plate appearances in OPS. There’s a legit baseball case for keeping him that goes well beyond a homecoming.

But once the Padres put France at first, they need to tell us what they expect from Sheets.

Padres need a clear role for Gavin Sheets at first base and DH

The cleanest arrangement would make France the primary first baseman and give Sheets opportunities at DH, occasional starts at first and work off the bench. We’ve seen him in left field. We probably don’t want to see much of that again.

If Sheets earns regular DH at-bats, great. If the Padres can acquire a more productive hitter for that spot, they should make the upgrade and reduce his role. It may sound harsh, but it’s fair to be demanding about who is occupying DH. It is the one lineup spot where the entire assignment is hitting.

Making Sheets a reserve creates another consideration: how much bench space should San Diego devote to a player whose clearest opportunities overlap with France’s? Sheets hit .212/.313/.397 with 17 home runs in 419 plate appearances in 2026, finishing with a .710 OPS. So yes, there’s power there, but that production leaves the Padres plenty of room to improve.

Re-signing Ty France should leave the Padres room for a lineup upgrade

The temptation with a productive reunion is to pencil both players into the lineup and move along. France plays first. Sheets handles DH. Two boxes checked.

But does that pairing give San Diego enough offense? And if Sheets spends more time on the bench, does the rest of the roster have enough coverage to carry a different arrangement? 

It’s fair to ask. France’s contract can’t be ignored either. The Padres should pay for the production they reasonably expect over the next deal. His successful return gives them a reason to negotiate, but it doesn’t guarantee his return if someone outbids them.

Sheets’ place on the roster should depend on how he helps the next Padres team score runs and win games, too. We can’t pretend his spot is guaranteed. Past contributions deserve appreciation. Future at-bats have to be earned.

Our preference should be straightforward. Pursue France as the primary first baseman, keep DH open to improvement and retain Sheets only with a useful, clearly defined role. If that requires a tougher decision on Sheets, make it.

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