The Toronto Blue Jays are rolling the dice early this spring, pulling off a swap with the Houston Astros that could help fill the void left by Anthony Santander’s injury. In a one-for-one outfield exchange, Toronto sent Joey Loperfido back to Houston and brought in Jesús Sánchez-a left-handed bat with serious upside against right-handed pitching.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a blockbuster deal on paper. Sánchez isn’t coming in with eye-popping numbers, and the Blue Jays are giving up a player in Loperfido who looked like he was on the verge of becoming an everyday contributor. But this is a calculated move by Toronto’s front office, one that leans heavily on analytics, projection, and a little bit of faith in their coaching staff.
Betting on Bat Speed and Platoon Power
Sánchez, 28, is entering his seventh Major League season. After debuting with the Marlins in the shortened 2020 campaign, he’s carved out a steady, if unspectacular, career.
From 2021 through 2025, he’s posted a 5.3 bWAR across 570 games, with 73 home runs and 236 RBIs. His career slash line sits at .242/.309/.424, with a .733 OPS.
But those numbers don’t tell the whole story. What the Blue Jays are really banking on is Sánchez’s ability to punish right-handed pitching.
Across his career, he’s hit .253/.324/.450 against righties, with 64 of his 73 home runs coming in those matchups. That’s not just a platoon split-it’s a weapon.
And when you dig into the advanced metrics, the intrigue grows. Last season, Sánchez’s average bat speed clocked in at 75.9 mph-good for the 93rd percentile in MLB.
His average exit velocity? 91.3 mph, which puts him in the 79th percentile.
Those are the kind of underlying numbers that get hitting coaches excited, and Toronto’s David Popkins now has a new project on his hands.
The Blue Jays leaned heavily into contact and bat speed last season, and Sánchez fits that mold. He also made some strides in plate discipline last year, cutting his strikeout rate to 22.1% after hovering above 26% the previous three seasons. His walk rate also nudged upward to 8.5%, and while his slugging percentage dipped to .395, his expected slugging (XSLG) sat at .451-suggesting there’s more power potential under the hood.
What the Blue Jays Gave Up
Of course, this isn’t a risk-free move. Joey Loperfido, who heads back to Houston in the deal, looked like he was on the verge of something bigger.
In 104 games last season, he slashed .333/.379/.500 with an .879 OPS. He may not have the same raw power as Sánchez, but Loperfido brought consistency and was under team control through 2031.
That’s a lot of future to give up for a player who’s set to hit free agency in 2028.
Still, the Blue Jays are clearly looking to plug a hole now. With Santander sidelined, Toronto needed a bat that could immediately step in and contribute-especially one that gives them a boost against righties. Sánchez might not be a defensive standout, but he brings a cannon of an arm (ranked in the 80th percentile) and adds another dimension to the outfield mix alongside Nathan Lukes and Davis Schneider.
A Necessary Gamble
This is the kind of move that reflects where the Blue Jays are right now. Injuries have already started to test their depth, and with Chris Bassitt now wearing an Orioles uniform, the team’s margin for error is shrinking. Sánchez may not solve every problem, but he gives Toronto a legitimate power threat and a potential everyday contributor-if things click.
GM Ross Atkins summed it up well during Spring Training: “He’s obviously been incredibly effective against right-handed pitching. He slots in as one of our better options against right-handers on a very regular basis.”
In other words, this is a fit. It’s not a blockbuster, but it’s a move with a clear purpose and a defined role. If Sánchez can tap into the potential his metrics suggest-if Popkins and the coaching staff can help him put it all together-this could be one of those under-the-radar deals that pays off in a big way.
For now, it’s a gamble. But it’s a smart one, and in a season where the Blue Jays are going to need some things to break their way, this might just be the kind of bet that makes a difference.