With this early-spring trade, the organization is mortgaging Loperfido's long-term potential - a low-cost asset with five additional seasons of club control - in favour of short-term certainty in Sánchez, who features another arbitration-eligible season in 2027 before hitting free agency. It provides this lineup, now without Anthony Santander (left shoulder surgery), with a known commodity that can help address a particular need - power.
The Astros could have non-tendered Sánchez on the heels of those struggles but chose to keep him around despite a projected arbitration salary of some note. The two parties agreed to a $6.8MM deal for the 2026 season. Toronto will take on the entirety of that sum in this swap and, as a third-time luxury payor in the top penalty tier, pay a 110% tax.