"This trade is a win-now move for a Blue Jays team trying to get back to the World Series in 2026. Sánchez, 28, is a more established major league player than Loperfido. He'll make $6.8 million this year and become a free agent after 2027, whereas Loperfido is under team control for five more years. Sánchez is far from a finished product, although he could be an exciting project for the organization."
"Sánchez possesses elite bat speed; his 75.9 mph average swing ranked in the 93rd percentile last year. In comparing him to his new teammates, his speed is the same as Addison Barger's and less than one mph slower than that of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Like Barger and Guerrero, Sánchez hits the ball extremely hard. His 91.3 mph average exit velocity ranked in the 79th percentile. That was actually down from 2024, when his 92.5 mph mark put him squarely in elite territory amongst qualified hitters."
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired outfielder Jesús Sánchez from the Houston Astros, sending Joey Loperfido back to Houston after Anthony Santander underwent shoulder surgery and will miss five to six months. The move prioritizes immediate contention for a 2026 World Series run. Sánchez, 28, earns $6.8 million in 2026 and reaches free agency after 2027, while Loperfido remains under club control for five more years. Sánchez shows elite bat speed and hard contact but produced a .699 OPS and 14 home runs last season, struggling particularly across 48 games with Houston despite better numbers before the trade.
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