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The Houston Astros traded Jesus Sanchez to the World Series runner-up Toronto Blue Jays for Joey Loperfido on Friday.
The Houston Astros just hit rewind on one of their deadline deals — and may only be getting started. According to Astros reporter Chandler Rome, Houston is re-acquiring Joey Loperfido from the World Series runner-up Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Jesús Sánchez, a move GM Dana Brown called a money-saving swap, with Sanchez owed $6.8 million while Loperfido makes the league minimum. It’s a small trade on paper, but it fits right into a larger puzzle the Astros have been trying to solve all winter.
Houston Astros Trade Jesus Sanchez to Toronto Blue Jays For Joey Loperfido
Sanchez logged 134 games last season between Miami and Houston, hitting .237 with 14 home runs, 48 RBI, and 13 steals, but he struggled after landing with the Astros. Offloading his $6.8 million salary gives Houston a bit more breathing room under the luxury tax as they continue to tinker with a roster that still has an infield logjam and multiple trade chips.
The Astros are re-acquiring Joey Loperfido from the Toronto Blue Jays for Jesús Sánchez, GM Dana Brown announced. It’s a money saving move — Sánchez is owed $6.8 million while Loperfido is making the league minimum.
Loperfido, 26, returns as a familiar upside bat who posted a .333 average and .879 OPS over 41 games with Toronto in 2025 while splitting time between the majors and Triple A. He hits left-handed, can move between the outfield and first base, and fits the type of cost-controlled depth Houston has been hunting while it sorts out bigger questions around Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes.
Loperfido has only 122 big-league games under his belt, but there’s some interesting upside buried in the line. Over his first two seasons with Houston and Toronto, he’s hit .248 with 17 doubles, 8 homers, 39 RBIs, and 5 steals in 366 plate appearances, good for a 1.1 WAR and a 93 OPS+.
Astros GM True to His Word
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. Brown has already said “we aren’t done yet,” and reporting around the club has centered on ongoing talks involving Paredes and, to a lesser extent, Walker as Houston searches for the cleanest way to unclog its infield and re-balance the lineup.
Rome has outlined how the Astros’ best version of their lineup probably includes Paredes over Walker right now, but Walker’s contract and down 2025 season have limited his market, making a Paredes deal the more realistic path.
In that context, flipping Sánchez for a cheaper, familiar bat in Loperfido looks like another step in a bigger retool — one that could still end with a headline move involving Houston’s crowded infield.
Toronto Blue Jays Cover Anthony Santander Loss With Jesus Sánchez
From Toronto’s side, this is about plugging a sudden, expensive hole. The Blue Jays just learned that right fielder Anthony Santander needs surgery on his left shoulder labrum and is expected to miss five to six months, likely sidelining him until August. Santander played only 54 games in 2025 and is in the second season of a five-year, $92.5 million deal, so the club needed coverage in the corner outfield spot without tearing up the rest of the roster.
Sanchez gives the Jays a left-handed outfielder with some power and speed who can handle right field and rotate through DH, adding short-term versatility while they wait on Santander’s rehab timeline.
Justin Carlucci brings 13+ years of journalism experience to Heavy. A veteran of multiple industry-leading companies, he has hosted SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio shows and contributed to the New York Post, combining traditional sports and news reporting with expertise in sports betting and fantasy sports. More about Justin Carlucci
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