Astros' Steven Okert: Signs minors deal with Houston
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Okert signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Nov. 5.
Okert appeared in 44 games for the Twins in 2024, putting up a 5.09 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 35.1 innings -- his worst statistical season since 2017. The 33-year-old southpaw will have an opportunity to bounce back with the Astros organization, though he will likely need to redeem himself at Triple-A Sugar Land before getting a chance to pitch for Houston.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Outrighted to Triple-A
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The Twins outrighted Okert to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday.
Okert cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and will remain in the organization as left-handed relief depth. He holds a 5.09 ERA and 33:16 K:BB over 35.1 frames this season at the major-league level.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Dropped from 40-man
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The Twins designated Okert for assignment Saturday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Okert will lose his spot in the Twins' bullpen after posting a 5.09 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 35.1 innings on the season. Scott Blewett was promoted from Triple-A St. Paul to fill the open roster spot.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Away from team
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The Twins placed Okert (personal) on the bereavement list Monday.
Okert will be away from the team for up to seven days as he tends to personal issues. In his stead, Josh Winder was called up from Triple-A St. Paul to serve out of the bullpen. Okert has a 4.45 ERA in 30.1 innings with the Twins this season.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Opening Wednesday's contest
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Okert will serve as the Twins' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Wednesday will mark Okert's first start of the season and just the third of his MLB career. The 33-year-old southpaw has recorded more than three outs in just three of his 34 appearances this season, so he's unlikely to work more than two innings before giving way to David Festa, who is expected to be called up from Triple-A St. Paul to serve as a bulk reliever.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Earns first save
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Okert earned the save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Dodgers, allowing one hit while recording a strikeout in a scoreless inning.
It's the first save in seven big-league seasons for Okert. The Twins appear to be utilizing a committee approach in the late innings with Jhoan Duran (oblique) on the injured list. Griffin Jax, Minnesota's primary high-leverage option, worked the eighth inning Wednesday against the middle of the Dodgers' lineup. The left-hander Okert has allowed one run on five hits and a pair of walks while logging seven strikeouts through his first four innings this season.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Was set for save chance
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Okert threw a scoreless ninth inning in Wednesday's win at Milwaukee with a walk and three strikeouts. He would have be in line for a save had the Twins not scored in the top of the ninth inning. "At that point in the game, Okert with the experience was probably the answer," manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Griffin Jax, who has Minnesota's only save with Jhoan Duran (oblique) on the injured list, was used in the eighth inning against the heart of the Brewers' lineup. While Okert isn't likely to get many save chances, he appears to be in the high-leverage mix and could see some ninth-inning opportunities when Baldelli is playing matchups.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Headed to Minnesota
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The Twins acquired Okert from the Marlins on Sunday in exchange for utility player Nick Gordon, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.
Okert spent the last three seasons in Miami, most recently compiling a 4.45 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 73 strikeouts over 58.2 innings in 64 appearances, including two starts, in 2023. The southpaw will now look to carve out a late-inning role with the Twins heading into his seventh major-league campaign.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Avoids arbitration with Marlins
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Okert signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Marlins on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Okert threw a career-high 58.2 innings in 2023 and maintained a 4.45 ERA to go along with a 1.26 WHIP. His 73:24 K:BB was more impressive, and he should shoulder a heavy workload in the Marlins' bullpen once again in 2024.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Hit with loss as opener
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Okert (3-1) took the loss Sunday against the Orioles, coughing up three runs on four hits in only one-third of an inning.
Getting the nod as the opener in a bullpen day, Okert gave up doubles to the first two batters he faced before Anthony Santander crushed a slider over the center-field fence. Long balls have been an issue for the southpaw reliever lately -- he's served up three homers in his last 9.1 innings, posting a 6.75 ERA and 1,39 WHIP over that stretch despite a 13:2 K:BB. Okert already has 10 holds and three wins in 38 appearances on the season, but his grip on a set-up role could be tenuous.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Opening on Sunday
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Okert will serve as an opener for the Marlins on Sunday in Baltimore, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Johnny Cueto seems to be a good bet to serve as a bulk reliever in the game. Okert has been fantastic for the Marlins this season, holding a 2.53 ERA and 43:11 K:BB over 32 relief innings.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Needs two more rehab outings
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Okert (groin) is scheduled to make a pair of rehab appearances at Triple-A Jacksonville on back-to-back days this week before being activated from the 15-day injured list, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Okert's ability to pitch on consecutive days will be the final hurdle he needs to clear before the Marlins are comfortable adding him back to the big-league bullpen. The 31-year-old should profile as one of the Marlins' top left-handed options out of the bullpen after he logged a 2.98 ERA over 51.1 innings while gathering 19 holds in 2022.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Another rehab outing on tap
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Okert (groin) is scheduled to make his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
If all goes well during Okert's upcoming outing, he could be reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of the Marlins' series with the Diamondbacks this weekend. Okert was sharp during his first appearance for Jacksonville on Sunday, issuing one walk and giving up no hits while striking out three batters in the one-inning, 21-pitch outing.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Live session on tap
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Okert (groin) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Okert doesn't look as though he's on pace to be activated from the 15-day injured list when he's first eligible April 11, but his absence shouldn't extend much beyond that if he's able to steer clear of setbacks as he recovers from the left adductor tightness that cropped up late in spring training. If Okert checks out fine following the upcoming live session, he could be cleared to head out on a brief minor-league rehab assignment soon thereafter.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Opening year on IL
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The Marlins announced Sunday that Okert (groin) will remain at the team's spring camp in Jupiter and won't be part of the Opening Day roster, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Okert is still working through left adductor soreness, so expect Miami to place him on the 15-day injured list within the next few days. The 32-year-old is projected to be a late-inning option for the Marlins in 2023 once healthy.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Still battling groin tightness
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Okert (groin) is unlikely to be ready for the beginning of the season, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Okert began experiencing adductor tightness in his inner left thigh earlier this week and is not scheduled to pitch in the Marlins' final set of Grapefruit League games. "Bad timing obviously," the reliever said Friday. "There's never a good time to get hurt, but [especially] right at the end of camp. Just got to get healthy and come back so I can help the team as best I can."
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Dealing with adductor issue
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Okert was held out of action Wednesday in Marlins camp because of an adductor issue, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
It's something Okert has dealt with in the past and the Marlins didn't want to push him this close to Opening Day. It sounds like they feel he will be fine after a bit of rest and treatment. The 32-year-old right-hander projects to operate in a later-inning role for Miami this season.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Healthy for spring camp
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Okert (triceps) has made three Grapefruit League appearances to date, covering three scoreless innings while striking out two and allowing two hits and one walk.
Okert looks to be back to full strength for spring training after he finished the 2022 season on the 15-day injured list with left triceps tightness. The 31-year-old reliever turned in a 2.98 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 63:26 K:BB in 51.1 innings a season ago and should factor into the Marlins' setup mix once again in 2023.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Lands on injured list
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Okert was placed on the 15-day injured list with left triceps tightness Thursday, retroactive to Sept. 26, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Okert hasn't pitched since giving up three runs (two earned) while failing to record an out against the Cubs on Sept. 21. He's apparently dealing with a triceps injury and will be forced to miss the final week of the season, even though his placement on the injured list was backdated. The southpaw was charged with losses in three of his final four appearances of the season but had a solid campaign overall, picking up 19 holds while posting a 2.98 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 51.1 innings over 60 appearances.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Collects 14th hold
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Okert gave up a hit and struck out three over 1.1 scoreless innings Thursday to record his 14th hold of the season in a win over the Phillies.
The 31-year-old had a rough patch in late July and early August, giving up runs in three straight appearances, but he appears to have righted the ship. Okert has been the Marlins' top setup man from the left side since Tanner Scott took over the closer role, and he's provided some solid fantasy value with five wins, a 2.77 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP and a career-high 31.3 percent strikeout rate through 39 innings on the year in addition to his career high in holds.
