Blue Jays sign reliever to minor league deal

The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a minor league contract with veteran right-handed reliever Matt Bowman Tuesday, with the 34-year-old (turning 35 on Sunday) expected to report to Triple-A Buffalo.

Bowman most recently pitched in the majors in 2025 with the Baltimore Orioles, where he logged 20 appearances, recording a 6.20 ERA over 24.2 innings, along with a 0-1 record and a 4.76 FIP. Across his MLB career, he has made 231 appearances with a 4.38 ERA. He was originally selected by the New York Mets in the 2012 MLB Draft and has spent time with multiple teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, and Baltimore.

This season, Bowman opened with the Minnesota’s Triple-A affiliate in St. Paul, compiling a 1.69 ERA over 21.1 innings. He amassed 26 strikeouts and six walks, along with a 2.91 FIP. He owns a 28.1% strikeout rate with a 6.7% walk rate. He also generated a ground-ball rate above 54-55%. However, his 7.1% swinging-strike rate is considered below average. Bowman eventually requested his release after opting out of his minor league deal when a major league opportunity did not materialize.

Pitching primarily as a multi-inning reliever in recent years, Bowman has been used as a “bulk arm” and is currently stretched for 2-3 inning outings. His repertoire includes a low-90s sinker, cutter, slider, splitter, sweeper, and four-seam fastball. His sinker has driven strong ground-ball production, while his sweeper has been highly effective in 2026, producing a 41% strikeout rate. Opponents were also 1-for-15 against his splitter in Triple-A action.

The move comes as Toronto manages bullpen injuries to Tommy Nance and Joe Mantiply. The Blue Jays relief group remains mid-tier statistically but carries a top-five strikeout rate, while depth options such as Chase Lee, Tanner Andrews, and Adam Macko remain on minor league options. With the 40-man roster currently full following Tanner Andrews’ addition, Bowman would require a roster move if promoted.

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