The Astros are bringing back a familiar face.
Houston and the Blue Jays struck a deal Friday that will send Jesús Sánchez to Toronto in exchange for Joey Loperfido, the former Astro, per ESPN.
Houston acquired Sánchez last year at the trade deadline from the Marlins for right-handed pitcher Ryan Gusto, infielder Chase Jaworsky and outfielder Esmil Valencia.
However, his stay in Texas won’t even last half a season.
Loperfido, on the other hand, was originally shipped off to Toronto for Yusei Kikuchi in 2024.
Over six MLB seasons split between Miami and Houston, Sánchez has never truly lived up to the hype he had as a prospect.
He topped out at 18 homers and 64 RBIs in 2024 and has never hit a batting average over .260 or an on-base percentage above .330.
He does offer solid defensive abilities in the outfield.
With the Blue Jays — last year’s American League champions — returning George Springer, Nathan Lukas, Addison Barger and Daulton Varsho, he’ll likely play a role off the bench.
He does add a necessary bat after Anthony Santander’s preseason shoulder injury.
Last season, after getting traded to the Astros, Sanchez hit four home runs with 12 RBIs and batted .199.
However, they still decided to sign him to a $6.8 million deal for 2026, all of which Toronto will now pay.
Loperfido has had much less success at the MLB level and may not even make the Astros’ Opening Day roster.
In 104 plate appearances last year, Loperfido slashed .333/.379/.500 with four homers and 14 RBIs.
Those numbers are a bit deceiving, though, considering his 26 percent strikeout rate to measly 3.8 percent walk rate.
Both the Blue Jays and Astros are coming off completely different seasons in 2025.
Toronto made the World Series, taking the Dodgers to Game 7 before ultimately choking away the title in the last inning.
Houston, despite all its dominance in the past decade, missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
From 2017-23, the Astros pieced together a seven-year streak of reaching the American League Championship Series before it was snapped in 2024.
It’s unlikely Friday’s trade will have much of an effect on their 2026 campaign.
But maybe it can be a game-changer for the up-and-coming Blue Jays.