In exchange, Houston sent Jesús Sánchez to the Blue Jays.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Houston Astros have brought back outfielder Joey Loperfido from the Toronto Blue Jays in a trade for outfielder Jesús Sánchez, General Manager Dana Brown announced on Friday.
The deal marks a return to Houston for Loperfido, who was selected by the Astros in the seventh round of the 2021 MLB Amateur Draft out of Duke University. In July of 2024, Loperfido was sent to Toronto as part of a four-player deal in which Houston acquired left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.
In 2025, Loperfido split time between Triple-A Buffalo and the Major Leagues. Across two big-league stints with the Blue Jays, he hit .333 (32-for-96) in 41 games, with four home runs and 14 RBI, posting an .879 OPS.
Sánchez, who was acquired by the Astros from the Marlins on July 31 of last season, hit .237 (107-for-451) in 2025 with 21 doubles, 14 home runs, and 48 RBI in 134 games, posting a .699 OPS.
Loperfido is expected to join the Astros camp in West Palm Beach on Saturday.
Houston cut payroll significantly with the trade. Sánchez has a $6.8 million salary this year, is again eligible for arbitration next winter, and is on track for free agency after the 2027 World Series. Loperfido is not yet eligible for arbitration and will make close to the $780,000 minimum.
The deal also follows news this week that Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander will have surgery on his left shoulder and is expected to miss 5 to 6 months.
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