The Orioles have signed right-handed reliever Matt Bowman to a minor league contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Bowman, who recently opted out of a minor league deal with the Twins, will receive a prorated $1 million base salary from the Orioles. His new deal includes a clause for upward mobility next week (Aug. 22) and a straight opt-out clause on Aug. 28.
Bowman will be joining his fourth team of the season. He has pitched in both the majors and minors for the Twins, Diamondbacks, and Mariners in 2024. In the big leagues, Bowman has a 5.40 ERA over 15 innings. However, he has excelled in Triple-A with a 2.05 ERA, a 28.9% strikeout rate, and a 6.6% walk rate across 30 2/3 innings. Drafted in the 13th round by the Mets in 2012 from Princeton, Bowman has accumulated 200 1/3 MLB innings over six seasons, posting a 4.22 ERA, an 18.8% strikeout rate, an 8.3% walk rate, and a 55.6% groundball rate.
Bowman’s Orioles deal is part of a whirlwind season for the veteran reliever. After initially signing with the Twins, he was designated for assignment, traded to the Diamondbacks, and subsequently became a free agent. He then signed with the Mariners but was designated for assignment again, leading him to re-sign with Seattle before opting out and rejoining Minnesota on another minor league deal.
The terms of Bowman’s contract with the Orioles may lead to further movement in the coming weeks. The upward mobility clause requires the Orioles to determine if any other team will add him to their 40-man roster. If not, the Orioles will need to decide whether to add him to their own roster or facilitate a trade. The opt-out clause on Aug. 28 provides Bowman with a chance to sign with a new team before the Aug. 31 deadline for postseason eligibility.
