Blue Jays Trade Fan Favorite Outfielder to Astros for Slugger

Toronto acquires Jesus Sanchez from Houston in exchange for Joey Loperfido

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Toronto Blue Jays have traded fan favorite outfielder Joey Loperfido to the Houston Astros in exchange for outfielder Jesus Sanchez. The move allows both teams to address their outfield needs, with Sanchez providing more offensive upside for the Blue Jays lineup.

Why it matters

This trade shakes up the Blue Jays' outfield, as they look to add more power to their lineup after the injury to Anthony Santander. Loperfido was a popular player in Toronto, but Sanchez's career numbers against right-handed pitching make him an intriguing acquisition for the Blue Jays.

The details

In the deal, the Blue Jays are acquiring 25-year-old outfielder Jesus Sanchez from the Astros in exchange for 26-year-old outfielder Joey Loperfido. Sanchez is set to make $6.8 million this season after being tendered an offer by Houston. Though Sanchez struggled after being traded to the Astros last season, he has shown the ability to hit right-handed pitching well in his career, with a .253/.324/.450 slash line against them.

  • The trade was announced on Friday, February 13, 2026, during the first week of spring training.

The players

Jesus Sanchez

A 25-year-old outfielder acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays from the Houston Astros. Sanchez has shown the ability to hit right-handed pitching well in his career.

Joey Loperfido

A 26-year-old outfielder traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Houston Astros. Loperfido was a fan favorite in Toronto and played an important role for the team during their World Series run.

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What’s next

The Blue Jays will look to integrate Sanchez into their lineup as they prepare for the upcoming season, while the Astros will welcome Loperfido and hope he can carve out a role with the team.

The takeaway

This trade represents a calculated risk by the Blue Jays, as they look to bolster their outfield with Sanchez's offensive upside, while parting ways with a fan favorite in Loperfido. The move could pay dividends if Sanchez can recapture his pre-trade form and provide a power boost to the Toronto lineup.