San Diego Padres steal away Toronto Blue Jays gold glove winning infielder

First things first, let us clear up a funny little misconception floating around online today regarding his position.

France is a natural infielder and a freshly minted Gold Glove first baseman, despite some fans accidentally calling him a pitcher.

Sure, he has tossed two blowout innings in his career just to save the bullpen, but his real magic happens in the batter's box.

This is exactly the kind of brilliant, low-risk move that smart front offices make right before spring training ramps up.

France (Drafted Round 34, 2015 by San Diego Padres) is now 31 years old and still possesses a wealth of major league experience.

He is coming off a split season where he hit .257 with seven home runs and a .680 OPS.

San Diego fans are absolutely thrilled to see a beloved familiar face returning to fight for a spot on this talented roster.

More importantly, he just secured his first career Gold Glove Award in the American League last fall for his flawless glove work.

Those offensive numbers might seem modest, but they represent a reliable veteran bat capable of grinding out incredibly tough at-bats.

Having a former All-Star willing to accept a non-roster invite shows exactly how badly he wants to win a championship here.

Every serious contender needs a seasoned guy who can step in late in the game and deliver a highly professional plate appearance.

If the primary infielders hit a brutal slump or deal with a sudden injury, France provides an immediate security blanket.

His elite defensive skills at first base alone make him an incredibly valuable asset for late-inning substitution strategies which is why many were hoping the Blue Jays would bring him back.

We all know the path back to the big leagues is never fully guaranteed when you sign a minor-league pact.

Yet, you can never count out a dedicated grinder who already defied massive odds to become a genuine household name in baseball.