The Marlins and Twins have agreed to a deal that will send infielder/outfielder Nick Gordon to Miami in exchange for left-hander Steven Okert. FanSided’s Robert Murray (X link) was the first to report Gordon was being traded to the Fish, while the Miami Herald’s Craig Mish reported (via X) that Okert was heading to Minnesota.
Gordon was the fifth overall pick of the 2014 draft, and a top prospect for much of his time in the Twins’ farm system even though his star began to dim due to injuries and struggles in the upper minors. With a career .248/.298/.361 slash line over 829 career Triple-A plate appearances, Gordon still made his MLB debut in 2021 appearing in 73 games for the Twins, and then took on a larger role with 443 PA over 136 games in 2022. Gordon earned that extra playing time by hitting .272/.316/.427 during the 2022 campaign, and his ability to play multiple positions made him a particularly valuable asset on a Minnesota team that beset by injuries.
Unfortunately, the injury bug again came for Gordon himself last year, as he fractured his right shin after fouling a ball off himself on May 17. This ended his MLB season after only 34 games, and Gordon made it back for six Triple-A games in September but wasn’t ready to return to the active roster before the end of the regular season. Gordon had been off to a tough start even before his injury, hitting only .176/.185/.319 in 93 PA.
The trade comes just a day after the results of Gordon’s arbitration hearing, and the panel sided with the Twins by deciding on a $900K salary for Gordon in 2024, rather than his desired figure of $1.25MM. Gordon is heading into his age-28 season but is still arb-controlled through the 2027 campaign as per his Super Two status. Okert offers only a bit less control, as was arb-eligible for the first of three times this winter and avoided arbitration by agreeing with the Marlins on a $1,062,500 salary for the 2024 season.
It was a little over a year ago that the Twins and Marlins lined up on the blockbuster four-player swap that sent Luis Arraez to Miami and Pablo Lopez to Minnesota. Today’s move isn’t nearly as high-profile, yet it does mark the fifth transaction between the two franchises within the last 13 months, as the Twins’ comfort level with Miami’s front office has continued even now that Peter Bendix has taken over from Kim Ng as the head of the Marlins’ baseball ops department.
Gordon has spent most of his time in the majors as a second baseman, center fielder, and right fielder, with a handful of appearances at shortstop, third base, and right field. The public defensive metrics haven’t been wowed by Gordon’s glovework at any of his positions, yet his sheer versatility makes him an interesting asset on Miami’s roster. Gordon isn’t likely to be answer to the Marlins’ needs at shortstop, though if Jon Berti ends up getting the bulk of playing time at short, Gordon might fill Berti’s old role as the chief utility option.
As Anthony Franco recently observed in a piece for MLBTR’s Front Office subscribers, the Marlins entered the offseason with quite a bit of left-handed relief depth, between Okert, Tanner Scott, A.J. Puk, and Andrew Nardi. Scott didn’t seem likely to be moved given his role as Miami’s projected closer, and unlike Okert, Scott and Puk both have minor league options remaining. Since Gordon is also out of options, this one-for-one swap helps both teams address some needs at the cost of a potentially expendable player.
A veteran of six MLB seasons with the Giants and Marlins, Okert posted a 2.89 ERA over 87 1/3 relief innings for Miami in 2021-22, with the aid of a .224 BABIP. Some course correction arrived in 2023, as Okert had a .295 BABIP and a 4.45 ERA over 58 2/3 frames, and a pretty mixed bag of peripherals. Okert’s strikeout and hard-hit ball rates were both well above average, but his walk and barrel rates were both below the league average. The 32-year-old Okert is also an extreme fly ball pitcher, so his effectiveness has tended to hinge on how well he fares at keeping the ball in the park.
On the plus side, Okert has good numbers against both left-handed and right-handed batters, and he has been a workhorse with 124 appearances over the last two seasons. He’ll now join Caleb Thielbar as the top southpaw options in Minnesota’s very solid relief corps, and rookie Kody Funderburk provides another interesting left-handed arm who could be shuttled back and forth from Triple-A as circumstances dictate.
Between payroll cuts and concerns over their TV contract, the Twins’ offseason has only started to kick into high gear over the last couple of weeks. Minnesota has now dealt both Jorge Polanco and Gordon in an effort to upgrade its pitching depth at the expense of a somewhat crowded group of position players, particularly within the infield. Even without Gordon, Willi Castro and Kyle Farmer can pick up the utilityman slack on the Twins’ roster, and top prospects Austin Martin and Brooks Lee are both expected to make their MLB debuts in 2024.
“sorry about the arbitration thing, bye”
Haha it sure seems that way lol
Yeah dude, was there some bad blood? Maybe Gordon took the opportunity to stick up for himself and took it a bit too far for the front offices liking
Pure speculation of course
Seems like him being traded was just dependent on the outcome of arbitration.
Sometimes, one thing has little to do with the other. Likely the case here.
“Seems like him being traded was just dependent”…Much more likely?…The young kid Gordon is not very good and the Twins have seen enough and would rather start over with a different prospect.
Okert is 32 so I’d hardly call him a prospect.
Or, quite likely, given that Okert is a pitcher and Gordon is a position player, he meant that the Twins have had enough of Gordon, are cashing him in for a pitcher, and are ready to start over with another prospect that can do what Gordon was doing.
That was my thought. Gordon’s long period of player control and value as a utility player with a pretty good season under his belt is far higher than a relief pitcher with similar recent troubles and less control.
Gordon was getting close to the margin of the Twins roster anyway. Sounds like a good guy from all accounts and I imagine his draft status kept him getting chances after he was hurt or struggled. But while he was having a lost year in ’23, Farmer and Castro solidified roles in the majors and Austin Martin got back on track in a role in the minors that were all somewhat redundant with Gordon.
I doubt Gordon even could make the Twins team out of Spring. I think it’s a good move to get a RP-L to bolster the pen.
Gordon may have made a ‘comment’ or two after the decision.
Nope, it was the Marlins who were waiting for the results. If he got $1.25 million that was going to be too rich. But since he is making almost $200,000 less in Okert they jumped all over it. I mean come on, that’s the down payment on a pretty nice house!
Marlins don’t want to trade for a player then have to tell him why he’s not worth what he’s asking. Make the Twins do it.
In other words, Gordon let them know he wasn’t happy about losing the arb case and the Twins said…see ya.
Nick Gordon is an intriguing bounce back option.
Absolutely!
“Intriguing bounce back”…I’m not try to be an As*ho*e, but doesn’t “bounce back” imply you were formerly good. Did I miss something, because when has Nick Gordon been any good?
Most, if not all, teams would love a player putting up little under 2 fWAR in 140+ games moving around the field with slightly above average production at the plate, like in 2022. It’s not superstar level, but it’s definitely worth “bouncing back” to from what he did (or didn’t do) last year.
Touche. I guess I’m only using the eye test and when I watch him, nothing about him says “top 10 pick”. I guess Minnesota was not impressed, but I hate to see any team give up on a top 10 pick.
You’re probably right about that, and I didn’t even think of that. The frustration had to be there former top 5 pick status hanging over him the whole time.
@mlb fan
Yeah, I meant bounce back to 2022, he’s not elite by any means but he did have an 110 ops+ and can move around a little
Supersub, plug em wherever plus he’s got wheels.
Supersub sounds like something you could order at Jersey Mikes!
@mlb fan – You definitely didn’t watch him much.
Gordon breathed life into the 2022 Twins. He was a fan favorite to watch, and a spark plug for the entire team. The guys at bats too often ended in him being too aggressive, but he tantalized the crowd with a lot of deep fly balls and a few that made it to the seats.. He hit a lot of very hard balls.
I don’t know as he’ll be a good player, but the 2022 wRC+ 111 was not an illusion. Enough extra strength for another 5 feet on his fly ball distance from gaining back the weight and strength he lost could make him starter worthy.
Can he play shortstop Twins fans? Where do you think he fits best defensively?
He’s somewhat similar to Chisholm. I think he could technically play shortstop
In Triple-A.
“In Triple-A”
Neither Nick Gordon nor Steven Okert has a minor league option remaining.
Gordon has an added year of team control.
He developed as a SS, so maybe could play it again
Idk anymore. He broke his leg last year. That’s the kind of thing that can kill your range…
Twins fan here…no he’s not a SS
This is the problem with prospects. So often a best young player on a team plays shortstop. Then when he gets to pro ball if there is no room at SS we move him to 2B, CF or maybe 3B which is no longer the players best position and he must adapt or fail. It makes me wonder when drafting do you take the so called best player available or do you select the best prospect that your team may need in a 3 year time period? As for Nick I hope he succeeds wherever the opportunity is.
@hareycarey I agree. 10-20 years ago, players drafted often moved to a new position by year 2. Most of the time, a player was moved after a couple looks or draft day to a new positions.
I remember stated pitchers becoming fielders. Catcher becoming RF or 1B. Now it’s changed and teams try to keep players as their designated position. Often it’s middle infielders who should be in the OF. Make you wonder what happened to scouts. Did the technical side of things influence organizations to keep players are their primary position they were drafted for?
Take Oneil Cruz for example, is long and lengthy frame deserves to be in the OF. But instead he was signed as a SS and plays SS. It’s baffling how players aren’t willing to shift to new positions that could get them to the majors quicker. Another example was Pedro Alvarez. Came up as a 3B guy and should have been taught 1B in the minors or RF. Instead, Pirates kept him at 3B even when he was throwing the ball to the stands. That is one thing I don’t like about baseball, the philosophy that players and agents know where they should be instead of listening to scouts. Scouts are being passed off as children now and never heard by the organization, player, or agent. Agent will pull up the logistics of the player and sets the ground rule. I like change, but somethings shouldn’t be tampered with.
Nope, he’s no longer a shortstop option. They didn’t even consider playing them there when Correa was out. He moved off of shortstop before he even came up. He can play a below average 2B (not as bad as Luis but not good) but his best spot is LF. He can be solid average there. That’s the main place the twins like to play him the last two years.
Wasn’t Gordon also hurt when Correa was out?
Nick Gordon was mostly used as a LF/CF option in 2022 and is phasing out of the infield. He can play 2B and SS in a pinch, but you probably don’t want him starting the game there
Eh… I don’t know if he can handle SS. The Twins didn’t see him as a fit there, but Falvey treated the previous regime’s prospects pretty poorly so I don’t think Gordon was ever going to get a real shot. Gordon was hitting 90mph off the mound as a pitcher in high school, but it seems the illnesses and weight/strength loss may have capped his arm’s ceiling. Probably a 55 grade arm right now.
Gordon’s a bit robotic in the field as well. He’s not as smooth a fielder as you’d like to see and he had a lot of problems with errors in the minors, though the Twins basically breed terrible defense in their middle infielders coming up because the franchise believes in players who can play 5 positions terribly rather than 1 position at an All Star level in the field.
I don’t think it would be terrible to give Gordon the starting shortstop duty. It’s where he wants to play, and he probably has adequate range for it. I’d be expecting a relatively poor fielding percentage for the first couple months though. Gordon hasn’t received substantial innings at the position since 2018… where he actually wasn’t bad in AA/AAA.
That’s right. Never underestimate this stadium or this Marlins fanbase or this ownership
Good trade for both teams. Gordon has some potential. Okert is decent.
I agree completely. Gordon’s versatility helps the Marlins, Okert helps the Twins’ pitching depth. Very good.
Feel like Minnesota gave up on Gordon too soon and for too little, but time will tell.
Twins have too many left handed hitting AAAA talent. Had to move on from some
You may be right as Gordon has a much offensive higher ceiling than Okert is as a reliever.
But Julien and Lewis showing in ’23 seemed to make Gordon more “tradeable.”
Falvey never liked Gordon. It’s been clear from day 1 how Falvey felt about the previous regime’s prospects.
last thing the Twins need is another bullpen piece
Okert is left handed at least.
Yup and he’s solid against both lefties and righties. Thielbar was horrendous against righties all last year. Made it really tough to bring him into games with the 3 hitter minimum rule
The Marlins liked Dee Gordon for a bit.. and if memory serves me, Dee had a better hit tool.. Nick might have more power.
Maybe they should have been pitchers like their daddy, Flash.
Honestly surprised the Twins got this much for Gordon who is just a worse version of Eddie Rosario offensively (walks less, K’s more, less power). They both also swing at everything in sight while Rosario is better at contact out of the zone.
Also not trying to say Okert is good, but I like him more than Gordon.
Minnesota and Miami both start with the letter M
They wear the same hats.
Yes, sadly the new twins road hat is referred to as the “Marlins of the North” hat. It’s brutal.
I remember watching a game early last year, and I was confused to see the Marlins as one of the teams. Those road hats logo has to be some kind of copyright violation.
Random observation. Okert debuted back in 2016, turns 33 mid year, has appeared in six MLB seasons, and pitched 60 or more games each of the last two years, 34 MLB games in 2022, and another season appearing in 44 games, yet still has three years of team control remaining.
34 games in *2021*.
Arbitration rules don’t work well for relievers who are optioned up and down. Their time spent in the roster is what matters, not appearances.
Okert #foreverGiants
Put him in center and move Jazz to shortstop! If he can’t cut Davis and Myer can fill in till victor mesa Jr is ready. Will the marlins do any of that of course not makes sense.
Well, the Marlins found their SS. hehehehehehehe I am so sorry Markins fans. But take heart, you could be an Angels fan.
Tigers FO is inept.
Definitely, hired the wrong dudes.
While not a starting shortstop, I feel, Nick will make for a quality super utility man given the opportunity to start regularly and off the bench. Best of luck to him in Miami.
Teaches you for taking the Twins to arbitration.
Take a guy to arbitration, beat him and then trade him? Pretty harsh. Some bad karma coming the Twins way. They’d better have some sage on hand.
I love a good conspiracy theory with the best of em. But…No. Just no.
Maybe he will have more opportunities in Miami. More opportunities means more chances to earn a bigger raise next time through arb
Okert is great. The Mets couldn’t trade for him? Another Stearns blunder. Twins gave up garbage for a strong reliever. 72 win season for the most poorly run organization in baseball
Ockert is solid 31 year old reliever. 136 K’s in his last 110 innings, with respectable numbers. That works. Gotta believe this helps the Twins, even if Gordon works out for the Marlins.
There’s more to this story that’s not being said. I do, however, highly doubt Gordon talked his way out of minnesota. He really was not a bad utility player for the team but he’s entirely blocked from everyday at-bats. Okert is not blocked at all. He could easily carve out a consistent role in that bullpen. Twins are stacked with high-end starting infielders. Now if buxton were to go down to injury, Gordon could have stepped in and played a respectable centerfield but let’s hope Byron’s woes are behind him.
Not if. When Buxton goes down to injury….
Gordon really doesn’t have the speed to cover center field.
So many people thinking Gordon forced his way out of Minnesota regarding the arbitration outcome when it was clear at the end of last season that there was no room for him on the roster. If anything, it’s likely this trade was agreed upon prior to the outcome of Gordon’s case and the Marlins had no reason to argue on behalf of the Twins.
Had a gut feeling a swap was possible with Gordon’s loss in arbitration.
Love this swap for Minnesota – Got more than I thought Gordon was worth back in the deal.
Dang, rather strategic on the Twins part
Brujan. Amaya, Berti, Edwards, Gordon, Jazz. A six pack of young and old bandaid SS solutions with potential upsides. “Poe-tential prospects”make your record poor. Sad.
@Fishfan 3
Have a little faith. The way I see it, there’s no reason why some of these guys couldn’t turn out to be excellent everyday players if given the chance. I especially like Brujan and Edwards. Let’s see what shakes out between now and opening day. That’s what ST is for.
Berti quietly did a very solid job for them last season while playing a lot of shortstop. He was decent both offensively and defensively, and may be their best option there for next season. He’s not the long term solution, however.
So last year the Twins shopped Kepler unsuccessfully, but the rumors persisted. They picked up his $10M 2024 option and stopped shopping him. He’ll be available in July if they’re out of it, but MIN seems to be trying to figure out a way to extend him without actually extending him. It’s like they’ve taken a page out of CLE’s book: do nothing in hopes of a solution presenting itself. If that doesn’t work, keep waiting.
Never heard of them
SS capable but probably not an everyday option. Maybe Gordon in CF and Jazz to SS?
I’m not a Twins fans per se, but I hate seeing teams miss on a top 10 pick. I’m truly disappointed for the Minnesota Twins, because you can’t afford to missfire on top 10 picks.
Okert is underrated and they had little use for Gordon any more, I like this for the Twins.
I swear, in every Marlins OOTP franchise I’ve played since COVID, Vidal Brujan and Nick Gordon always end up on my team.
This leaves Willi Castro as the only backup CF for the Twins if/when Buxton can’t go? Yikes.
Austin Martin(AAA) and Emmanuel Rodriguez(A+) are both on the 40 man. Martin would probably platoon with Castro if Buck can’t play
Or they sign/trade for another player. Taylor, Belli, Duvall
Kepler can play there in an emergency, but by all accounts they prefer to keep him in RF these days. Austin Martin looks like he’s going to make the team as a utility player and could see a decent amount of time in CF if needed.
Honestly, while the Twins put him in CF, Gordon’s running speed was only suited for the corners. Gordon’s got 50/55 grade speed, and you really want 60+ grade in CF.
Real good move in my opinion. We basically turned a redundant DFA candidate into a solid lefty bullpen piece:)
I like this deal for the Marlins as Gordon still has some projection in his profile; there is still a chance -slim, sure – that he could grade higher both offensively & defensively to net a starter’s role w/ versatility. Minny’s new pitcher is exactly what you see, & fighting Father Time…
2014 top 5 pick. Twins got all they could out of him. Didn’t pan out.
Great trade for the twins
If my last name were Okert, I’d name my kid Mike.
Gordon was almost certainly going to be a causality in ST, honestly surprised they tendered him a contract. Getting a half decent lefty reliever is a lot more than I would’ve expected.
Gordon is well known to have an attitude problem which is pretty typical. The Twins have seen enough and his lack of success to this point can be tied to his selfish approach towards life.
All the beat reporting about Gordon was “the kind of guy you want to root for,” etc. when he made the majors after losing a couple years to health stuff. He’s been one of the most visible dugout cheerleaders in the last couple years, including when he was on the IL and not playing. “Well known to have an attitude problem”?
The reporters are carrying water for a specific narrative fostered within the Twin Cities.
Certainly possible. And a certain sector of sports fans like to make things up to give the impression of having inside information about players’ lives or team dynamics. So what are your sources for this ostensibly well-known issue?
Burning one’s sources is seldom a good idea.
What in the actual hell are you talking about? Nick Gordon (Twins) has never been considered anything other than an absolutely fantastic guy. He’s a beloved guy in the clubhouse known for having an outstanding attitude.
What in the actual hell are you talking about? Nick Gordon (Twins) has never been considered anything other than an absolutely fantastic guy. He’s a beloved guy in the clubhouse known for having an outstanding attitude.
I still don’t understand why the White Sox literally gave Jake Burger to the Marlins?
Great deal for the Marlins. I pray Nick Gordon finally stays healthy and becomes the All-Star player we all know he can be. Enjoy Miami, Nick. Best of luck!
Gordon seems to be Utility lottery ticket. If he pays off, they can trade Berti for real value.
Might happen, probably won’t
The best option for the Marlins is probably to use Nick Gordon as a starter at SS and see what they’ve got. Repetition and a front office that can believe in him give the Marlins the best opportunity to turn this into a steal of the decade should Gordon pan out.
I like this deal for the Marlins. I’m actually surprised we got this for Okert. We traded away our fourth lefty reliever, who is also our oldest one.
Twins fans will learn quickly that Okert is not as good as his stats. He has two pitches that are effective based on batters guessing wrong. He’s mostly affective, but on nights when the batters guess right, Okert gets hit.