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The Blue Jays have several infielders. Ernie Clement, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Andres Gimenez will be regulars in the outfield. Addison Barger will play either third base or right field… and Kazuma Okamoto is more of an infielder than anything else.
In the outfield? Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, Davis Schneider (who can play second base), Anthony Santander, Daulton Varsho, and George Springer are there. Barger and Okamoto can also go in the outfield, if needed.
We agree that despite the surplus of outfielders, picking up a regular like Kyle Tucker is still a possibility in Toronto. And in any case, it will create a certain surplus in the outfield.
A transaction is therefore possible. Is Anthony Santander a name that should be circulating? Certainly.
But neither should we rule out the possibility of Joey Loperfido, who is likely to start next season in Buffalo, being on the market for the Blue Jays.
In reality, I wonder how interested his former organization (the Astros) might be in going after him.
I say this because the club clearly needs help in the outfield… and because a tweet from Brandon Wilde (who has his antennae in MLB) got me thinking in connection with the situation of the two clubs.
Will the Astros, who gave Tatsuya Imai $21m a year, have to trim the fat? Possibly, given that the owner doesn't like to spend like crazy. And the Blue Jays, who are looking for a closer, might be interested in talking about Josh Hader.
I'm still a bit surprised the Jays haven't acquired a closer this winter. If the Astros are looking to shed salary, it feels like the teams line up pretty well in a potential Josh Hader ($19M AAV) trade.
Not saying HOU wants to move him, but the Jays have a lot of what the…
– Brandon Wile (@Brandon_N_Wile) January 3, 2026
Warning: I'm not saying it's going to go that far, obviously. But if Houston ever considered it, could a deal involving Joey Loperfido and Jose Berrios (with a hefty salary hold, of course) get done?
The Astros need reinforcements in the rotation and in the outfield. They'd also free up some money in the process.
For their part, the Blue Jays would use their depth in the outfield and on the mound to fill a need in the bullpen and get out two guys who may be running out of room in 2026 in town.
Why not?
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