Miami Marlins swing trade with Minnesota Twins, acquiring Nick Gordon for Steven Okert

The Miami Marlins on Sunday acquired utility player Nick Gordon from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for left-handed relief pitcher Steven Okert.

The move is the Marlins trading from a position of strength (bullpen depth) for a former top prospect they hope can have a bounceback season after dealing with injury in 2023.

Gordon, 28, was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft by the Twins and is a half-brother of former Marlins infielder Dee Strange-Gordon. Gordon made his MLB debut in 2021 and in 245 games over three seasons has a .250 batting average and .685 on-base-plus-slugging percentage with 15 home runs, 80 RBI, 42 doubles, 77 runs scored and 16 stolen bases in 21 attempts.

He had an injury-riddled 2023 season, playing in just 34 games due to a right tibia fracture and hit just .176 in 93 plate appearances.

Defensively, Gordon has primarily played center field (92 games, 66 starts), left field (85 games, 58 starts), second base (64 games, 50 starts) and shortstop (33 games, 15 starts). The Marlins have not yet decided what position he will play.

Gordon is under team control for four years and will make $900,000 in 2024.

Okert spent the past three seasons with the Marlins, pitching to a 3.51 ERA over 158 appearances, mostly in middle-inning and setup roles.

He was one of four left-handed pitchers the Marlins used in high-leverage situations last season, along with Tanner Scott, Andrew Nardi and A.J. Puk. Okert was expendable with the other three lefties returning and in place for big roles in 2024. Miami also has right-handers Anthony Bender, JT Chargois and Huascar Brazoban as high-leverage relief options.