The Minnesota Twins have made a notable move by granting right-hander Matt Bowman his release after he activated an opt-out clause in his contract. Alongside this, the Twins reassigned several non-roster players, including Dan Altavilla, Orlando Arcia, David Bañuelos, and Trent Baker, to the minor league camp. This reshuffling sets the stage for Cody Laweryson and Zak Kent to potentially secure the final two spots in the bullpen, unless the team decides to bring in additional reinforcements.
Bowman, at 34, showcased his skills this spring with 7 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing only six hits and two walks while striking out seven. Despite his solid spring performance, Bowman, who has a career 4.38 ERA over seven major league seasons, struggled last year with a 6.20 ERA in 24 2/3 innings for Baltimore.
Cody Laweryson, 27, made an impressive debut with the Twins last offseason. He managed to keep opponents at bay, allowing just one run on four hits with no walks and striking out seven.
This followed a strong Triple-A performance, where he posted a 2.86 ERA. After a brief stint with the Angels, he returned to the Twins and continued to impress this spring.
However, to include him on the Opening Day roster, the Twins will need to clear a 40-man roster spot.
The Twins’ bullpen situation is a stark contrast to last year. Entering 2025, they boasted one of the league’s top bullpens, but a midseason sell-off saw key players like Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax traded for younger talent. Now, as they head into 2026, the bullpen appears to be one of the weakest in the league.
Their offseason additions were minimal, bringing in left-hander Anthony Banda and righty Eric Orze, along with a one-year deal for Taylor Rogers. The bullpen lineup includes Rogers, Banda, Sands, Topa, Orze, Kent, Laweryson, and Kody Funderburk. Notably, there’s no designated closer, and only a few relievers have significant major league experience.
As the season progresses, the Twins will be looking for young talent to step up. Prospects like Connor Prielipp and Marco Raya could become key players, while starting pitchers who don’t secure rotation spots might find opportunities in relief roles. For now, the bullpen faces a challenging outlook, but there’s room for emerging talent to make a difference.