Minnesota Twins and Quality Reliever Part Ways After Dominant Spring

The Minnesota Twins are losing an intriguing arm just days before the 2026 regular season begins.

Relief pitcher Matt Bowman has exercised the opt-out clause in his minor league contract with Minnesota, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The 34-year-old right-hander was originally scheduled to pitch on Sunday, but that plan is now out the window as Bowman bets on himself and forces the Twins to make a decision on his future with the organization.

A Spring to Remember

What makes this move so surprising is the timing, because Bowman has been nothing short of dominant over the past month.

He posted a perfect 0.00 ERA across 5.1 innings this spring with a strong 6-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio, giving Minnesota’s coaching staff every reason to believe he could help a bullpen that needs all the depth it can get.

On top of that, Bowman represented Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, where he allowed just one hit and one walk over three shutout innings in pool play.

Between the WBC and Grapefruit League action, Bowman threw roughly eight-plus innings without giving up a single earned run, and that kind of stretch is hard to ignore no matter who you are.

Why Opt Out Now?

The decision to opt out right before the season might seem confusing on the surface, but it actually makes a lot of sense from Bowman’s perspective.

As a non-roster invitee on a minor league deal, he had no guarantee of making the Twins’ 26-man roster, and his contract included an opt-out clause that gave him the ability to test the waters if Minnesota did not add him to the 40-man roster by a certain date.

Bowman has been through this exact process before, having exercised opt-out clauses with both the Yankees and the Twins in previous years while trying to find a permanent home on a big league roster.

The Twins now have to decide whether to bring Bowman aboard or let him walk, and there is a real case for keeping him.

Minnesota went just 70-92 last season and lost Pablo Lopez to Tommy John surgery, leaving the pitching staff in a tough spot heading into a year where the front office has preached development and competition.

The bullpen still has questions beyond the top few arms, and a veteran like Bowman who has shown he can get outs at the big league level could provide a helpful bridge option while younger relievers find their footing.

What Comes Next

Bowman owns a career 4.38 ERA across 240.2 big league innings spanning seven different organizations, and while his 2025 numbers with Baltimore were rough at 6.20 over 24.2 innings, his recent performance tells a much different story.

The Princeton product has always been a ground-ball pitcher who keeps the ball on the ground, and when his sinker is working the way it has been this spring, he can be a reliable middle-innings option for just about anyone.

If the Twins pass on Bowman, there will likely be other teams interested in picking him up, especially clubs in need of veteran bullpen depth heading into the regular season.

Either way, Bowman did everything he could this spring to prove he belongs, and now the ball is in Minnesota’s court.

Minnesota Twins and Quality Reliever Part Ways After Dominant Spring

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