As the Minnesota Twins announced their mutual departure with President of Baseball and Business Operations Derek Falvey on Friday morning, a player signing came through on the transaction wire.

The Twins reunited with RHP Matt Bowman, signing him to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Bowman last pitched for the Twins in 2024. Last year, he made 20 relief appearances with the Baltimore Orioles, pitching to a 6.20 ERA, with a 5.3% walk rate, 15.8% strikeout rate, and 4.76 FIP over 24 â…” innings.

Bowman has been a complete journeyman reliever since 2023, after he missed three full seasons due to Tommy John surgery in September of 2020 and a second elbow surgery in 2022. He’s pitched for six organizations over the last three seasons, including the Twins.

Over the last three seasons, Bowman owns a 5.46 ERA, 5.10 FIP, 1.41 WHIP, 7.9% walk rate, 16.9% strikeout rate, and 10 home runs allowed over 59 â…“ innings across 48 relief appearances.

Matt Bowman is not a flamethrower. He had an average velocity of 91.1 MPH on his sinker last season. Still, he has a wide arsenal of pitches he uses, from a cutter, sweeper, and splitter, along with the sinker and four-seam fastball. Bowman doesn’t have much velocity, but he occasionally induces weak contact against opposing hitters. He had an 88.4 MPH average exit velo on his pitches last season.

In a typical off-season, Bowman’s re-signing with the Twins is a pretty insignificant move. They could cut him in spring training. Still, this off-season is much different. Taylor Rogers is Minnesota’s only MLB free agent reliever signing. Bowman now enters as the frontrunner of their pool of minor league reliever signings to have a chance to make the Opening Day bullpen.

The Twins had already signed RHPers Grant Hartwig, Andrew Bash, and Luis Quinones, and assigned them to Triple-A St. Paul. All will be candidates in spring training to be the eighth man in Minnesota’s Opening Day bullpen. Bowman has the most MLB experience among this group, making him a name to watch in spring training.

Minnesota could still sign another Major League reliever or two signed between now and when pitchers and catchers report to camp on February 12. However, until a signing takes place, these minor league reliever signings could have some impact on the Opening Day roster.