Minnesota Twins Reliever Opts Out of Contract
With just four days left until the Minnesota Twins kick off their 2026 regular season, the roster must be cut down to 26 players prior to first pitch on Opening Day in Baltimore Thursday. In recent days, we’ve seen cuts more often targeting veteran relievers, some of which have exercised options that immediately land them in free agency.
Late last week, it was Liam Hendriks and Andrew Chafin who left the club, after being informed that they wouldn’t make the team out of camp. Then on Sunday, 34-year-old Matt Bowman did the same thing.
Matt Bowman has exercised his opt-out with the Twins. The righthander, who has a 0.00 ERA this spring and had a 0.00 ERA for Team Israel, is scheduled to pitch today for the Twins.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 22, 2026
What does Matt Bowman opt-out mean?
Having exercised his opt out, Matt must now be placed on the 26-man roster, or granted his release. He is among a small group of non-roster relievers fighting for one or two spots.
The MN Twins brought Matt Bowman back as a non-roster invitee this spring after he made five appearances for the club in 2024. Bowman’s departure comes after five exhibition appearances in Grapefruit League play, where he allowed just one unearned run and five hits in 5.1 innings pitched.
Orioles reliever Matt Bowman is quietly having a great start to 2025
— Kick Dirt Baseball (@KickDirtBB) April 11, 2025
Through 6.1 IP he’s walked 0 and has an Avg EV of just 81.7 in 21 BBE. The K and Whiff aren’t good, but his adjusted usage rates (FC up) seem to have been effective so far. pic.twitter.com/UL9g3kzets
Bowman did leave camp for a period to participate in the World Baseball Classic with Team Israel, where he appeared in two games and allowed just one hit in three innings.
Last season, his seventh in the majors, Bowman threw 24 2/3 innings with the Baltimore Orioles. He owned a 6.20 ERA (4.76 FIP) and 6.6 K/9. He’s bounced around plenty with middling success.
MN Twins bullpen whittling down
If Bowman doesn’t make the bullpen, the Minnesota Twins will be down to 36 players in Fort Myers. They’ll still need to make ten cuts prior to Opening Day.
The bullpen should be expected to carry eight players. Locks include Cole Sands, Taylor Rogers, Justin Topa, and Anthony Banda. Eric Orze and Zak Kent both have 40-man roster spots and seem to be in as well.
Two final spots could go to non-roster invites Cody Laweryson and Dan Altavilla. Grant Hartwig is also still around.
Minnesota’s bullpen is not projected to be the strength it was a season ago. After being gutted at the trade deadline, they’ll need to re-establish themselves in situations across the board.
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