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.
As Spring Training approaches, fans can gear up for some entertaining battles between current 40-man roster outfielders, competing for playing time in 2026. The likes of Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, Davis Schneider, Jonatan Clase, and Addison Barger will all be in the mix, with the majority of those names likely resorting to bench roles, presuming everyone stays healthy. One wild card in this group is Joey Loperfido.