Dasan Hill could be the next former Twins arm to thrive after joining the Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins has made some significant moves with the Minnesota Twins in the past and he went back to the well on Monday during the MLB trade deadline (Aug. 3). For the second straight season, the Blue Jays and Twins swapped some pitching talent.

This time it was the Blue Jays sending the MLB level arm while getting back some prospects. Toronto traded reliever Jeff Hoffman in exchange for three minor leaguers in LHP Dasan Hill, RHP John Klein and INF Dameury Pena. After the deal, Hill and Klein both ended up in the Blue Jays' top 30 prospects list. Hill is ranked No. 6 while Klein is No. 25. Pena is unranked in the top 30. 

Last year, the Twins provided the playoff bound Blue Jays with reliever Louis Varland in exhcange for prospects Kendry Rojas and Alan Roden. Rojas made his MLB debut this season and looks like he could develop into a staple of the Twins' rotation. Roden has seen some action at the MLB level, but the outfielder hasn't been able to make it stick.

Meantime, Varland has gone on to become one of the elite closers in the league. Ironically, the Twins are hoping some of that can rub off on Hoffman, whom Varland usurped for the closer's role in Toronto. The Twins, who got Hoffman with an extra year left on his contract, would love for Hoffman to repliecate just som of the success that Varland is currently having in Toronto as they continue to make their playoff push in both the AL Central and Wild Card standings.

So with Hill now in the Blue Jays system, Toronto could have gained a player whom the Twins will wish they'd hung onto, similar to Varland. The six-foot-five 20-year-old can touch 99 mph with his fastball that averages 95 mph. His issue has been walks, something a lot of younger pitchers struggle with at this stage. If Hill can cut down on his free passes and attack the zone more consistently he could climb through the ranks.

He's been assigned to High-A with the Vancouver Canadians where he'll pitch alongside Johnny King, the Blue Jays No. 3 prospect and a guy with a similar profile to Hill, just from the opposite throwing arm. It will be really fun to watch these two potential future rotation pieces grow together within the Blue Jays system.

Blue Jays getting reliable pitching from Twins extends beyond Louis Varland

Several years ago, Atkins looked to the Twins to make one of his first "post-rebuild" trade deadline splashes. He flipped two highly rated prospects in Simeon Woods Richardson (No. 4 at the time of the deal) and Austin Martin (No. 2 at the time of the deal) to acquire a then 27-year-old José Berrios.

Berrios was the perfect pick up during that 2021 stretch drive, slotting in behind Cy Young award winner Robbie Ray. While the Blue Jays missed the playoffs that season by just one game, the stage was set for the next era of the Blue Jays to make a push in the following season's as a true playoff contender.

While Berrios has had his issues with the Blue Jays lately, that deadline deal with the Twins really marked a turning point for Toronto. After adding George Springer and Marcus Semien to deals in the offseason, the addition of Berrios at the trade deadline was just further proof that the rebuild was officially over.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow