The Twins and Marlins have made several trades with one another since the start of 2023. Even though there’s been turnover in Miami’s front office recently, the two sides completed yet another trade on February 11. The Marlins acquired former first-round pick Nick Gordon, in exchange for veteran reliever Steven Okert.
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The Marlins’ Return
- INF/OF Nick Gordon (.176/.185/.319, 2 HR in 93 PA)
At the age of 28, Nick Gordon hasn’t exactly lived up to the expectations set upon him when the Twins selected him fifth overall back in 2014. Over three MLB seasons (2021-23), Gordon hit .250/.293/.392 (.685 OPS) with 15 home runs and 16 stolen bases over 752 career plate appearances.
Gordon is an uber-aggressive hitter at the plate, one who’s posted Chase% rates above 37% — and over 10% league average in his career — in all three of his MLB seasons. He doesn’t walk a lot given those numbers but one would have to think what the 28-year-old showed in 2022 is why the Marlins like Gordon.
In that campaign, Gordon hit nine home runs and 41 extra-base hits. He handled velocity and breaking balls well, and showed some pop at the plate. And per Statcast, Gordon had an expected home run rate in the double digits that season with 25/29 other teams.
Defensively, Gordon has largely played in the outfield but has seen time at second, short, and third.
The move comes shortly after Gordon lost his arbitration hearing with the Twins.
The Twins’ Return
- RP Steven Okert (4.45 ERA, 73 K over 58.2 IP)
Steven Okert’s been one of the better left-handed middle relievers over the past three seasons. Okert struck out 176 over 146 frames (10.8 K/9) from 2021-23 and owned a solid .685 opponent’s OPS in that span.
Among left-handed relievers that have thrown at least 100 innings in that span, Okert is 21st in OPS.
The 32-year-old is mainly a two-pitch hurler, as he uses just a four-seamer and slider, while essentially ditching the sinker he used earlier in his career regularly.
Okert doesn’t have plus command but his stuff is tough to hit thanks to deception and that aforementioned slider. It’s a pitch that he’ll use against both lefties and righties, one that can run on opposite-sided hitters or run away against same-sided ones.
The new Twin posted sub-.700 OPS figures against both lefties and righties in his career.
Analysis
The Marlins come into 2023 with a fair amount of left-handed reliever depth. Even though the Marlins do plan on stretching out A.J. Puk this coming spring, the presences of Andrew Nardi and Tanner Scott, as well as young hurlers Ryan Weathers and Josh Simpson, allow Miami to take a flier on Gordon without losing too much bullpen depth.
The addition of Okert does give the Twins a second reliable left-hander out of the pen, joining Caleb Thielbar. Former Twin Emilio Pagan was often relied upon to get lefties out in 2023 but that won’t be the case come 2024.
And as for Gordon, the 28-year-old does give the Marlins some positional versatility, as well as somewhat of a projectible bat. Not to mention, he could be a backup plan for Miami should injuries arise in 2024.