Reports: Twins trading Nick Gordon to Marlins for reliever Steven Okert

Minnesota further bolsters bullpen.

The Twins are trading utility man Nick Gordon to the Miami Marlins for left-handed reliever Steven Okert, according to multiple reports.

The story from @Ken_Rosenthal and I on the Twins trading Nick Gordon to the Marlins for LHP Steven Okert, the teams swapping players who are out of options. https://t.co/f4G7rqbUvT

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) February 11, 2024

Okert, 32, has a 3.70 earned-run average across his six-year Major League Baseball career with 220 strikeouts across 194 1/3 innings. He’s walked 80 batters and allowed 86 runs — 80 earned — during that time. 

Last season, Okert pitched 58 2/3 innings for the Marlins, allowing 31 runs — 29 earned — while striking out 73 batters and posting a 4.45 ERA. Okert further bolsters a Twins bullpen that’s projected to be among the best in baseball.

Gordon, 28, is a .250 hitter across his three-year MLB career with the Twins. He’s hit 15 home runs, six triples and 42 doubles in his career. He saw his longest stint in the majors in 2022, when he played 136 games and hit .272 for the season. He missed most of 2023 after fracturing his right tibia on May 17.

Gordon lost his salary arbitration case to the Twins on Saturday, which raised his salary from $735,400 to $900,000, opposed to the $1.25 million salary he requested.

Okert, meanwhile, will make $1.06 million in 2024, according to spotrac.com. Both players are without minor league options, according to The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman, and the trade gives both players a better chance to stay in the majors. 

Twins are trading Nick Gordon to the Marlins for reliever Steven Okert.

Okert is a 32-year-old sinker/slider left-hander with a 3.70 ERA and 220 strikeouts in 194 career MLB innings.

Okert makes $1.1 million. Gordon makes $900,000. Both players are out of minor-league options.

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) February 11, 2024