Breaking Trade: Blue Jays & Astros Swing OF Trade

The Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros have swung a deal, with the Astros re-acquiring Joey Loperfido, and the Jays obtaining power-packed outfielder Jesus Sanchez.

OFFICIAL: We’ve acquired OF Jesús Sánchez from the Astros in exchange for OF Joey Loperfido.

Welcome to our #BlueJays family! pic.twitter.com/eC2x0SqRxq
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) February 13, 2026

Sanchez is a six-year veteran with 73 career homers, but Jays GM Ross Atkins feels there's a lot more to give from the slugging outfielder. He says that they have liked Sánchez for a while now.

The 28-year-old will "slot in as one of our better options against right-handed pitching on a very regular basis.

“The power is real. He hits the ball as hard as anyone."

With Anthony Santander going out for most of the season (again) with shoulder surgery, the Jays needed another power bat, and they're going with the 28-year-old Dominican.

The Jays had acquired Loperfido from Houston in the Yusei Kikuchi deal back in 2024.

Sanchez hit .199 last season for the Astros, mostly in a platoon role against righties. Including his time with Marlins in the first half, he finished with 14 homers and 48 RBIs with a .699 OPS.

Those overall numbers in 2025 are pretty close to his career marks, with a .239 average and a .727 OPS, with a 98 OPS+, just below league-average level. He's on a one-year, $6.8 million contract and is under team control for another season after this one.

Loperfido was a top-five-ranked prospect for the Astros before they dealt him to Toronto, and the 26-year-old said he was grateful to experience the Jays' postseason run in 2025, and will always remember it. But he is also thrilled to be heading back to the Houston organization, as he was devastated when they traded him back in 2024.