Blue Jays, Astros Complete 1-for-1 Outfield Trade

The two teams swap left-handed hitting outfielders in a surprising move.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros have completed a one-for-one trade, swapping left-handed hitting outfielders. The Astros sent Jesús Sánchez to the Blue Jays in exchange for Joey Loperfido, whom they had previously traded away in 2024.

Why it matters

This trade represents an unusual move where two teams essentially undo a previous transaction, swapping back the same type of player. It highlights the fluid nature of roster construction in Major League Baseball and the willingness of teams to revisit past decisions.

The details

In the 2024 trade deadline, the Astros sent Loperfido to the Blue Jays as part of a three-player package for starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi. Now, just a year and a half later, the Astros have reacquired Loperfido, sending outfielder Jesús Sánchez to Toronto in the process. Loperfido excelled in limited playing time for the Blue Jays last season, batting .333 with a 140 OPS+, while Sánchez has shown impressive power but struggled with consistency in his six-year MLB career.

  • The trade was completed on February 13, 2026.
  • In 2024, the Astros traded Loperfido to the Blue Jays at the trade deadline.

The players

Joey Loperfido

A left-handed hitting outfielder who was previously traded from the Astros to the Blue Jays in 2024, and has now been traded back to Houston.

Jesús Sánchez

A left-handed hitting outfielder who the Astros acquired at the 2022 trade deadline and have now traded to the Blue Jays.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Astros will look to integrate Loperfido into their outfield plans, while the Blue Jays will hope Sánchez can provide power-hitting depth with the loss of Anthony Santander to injury.

The takeaway

This trade demonstrates the fluid nature of roster construction in Major League Baseball, where teams are willing to revisit past decisions and swap similar types of players if it makes sense for both organizations.