Amidst a never-ending slew of pitching injuries, the Toronto Blue Jays are turning to free agency for help again.

The club has reportedly agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran reliever Matt Bowman, as the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported Tuesday night. Once official, the right-handed hurler — who turns 35 on Sunday — will report to Triple-A Buffalo.

Bowman began this season with the Minnesota Twins’ Triple-A affiliate, pitching to an impressive 1.69 ERA and 2.91 FIP across 21.1 innings, while also posting encouraging strikeout (26) and walk totals (six). But he ultimately requested his release last week after the big-league club couldn’t accommodate his call-up request.

The seven-year MLB vet last pitched in the majors in 2025, logging 24.2 innings with the Baltimore Orioles, though struggling to a 6.20 ERA and 4.76 FIP in 20 appearances. He’s also split time with six other organizations, mostly the St. Louis Cardinals, with whom he compiled 149.1 of his career 240.2 innings from 2016-18.

During his prospect days with the New York Mets, Bowman climbed through the minors as a traditional starting pitcher. But ever since then, he’s been featured as a multi-inning reliever — also known as a bulk arm — and is currently stretched out for 2-3 inning outings as he joins the Bisons’ staff.

The soon-to-be 35-year-old journeyman throws five pitches, led by his low-90s sinker, a pitch largely responsible for the righty’s 54.5 per cent ground-ball rate this season. He also features a sweeper that owns a 41 per cent strikeout rate in 2026, as well as a splitter (Triple-A opponents are 1-for-15 against thus far), cutter and four-seamer.

Given the Blue Jays are down to three healthy starters, not including Spencer Miles, who’s tossed 4.1 innings in each of his last two appearances as part of bullpen games, it makes sense to add another bulk arm like Bowman to their minors depth. If he’s called up, the organization must first add him to its 40-man roster, which is currently full following the recent addition of Tanner Andrews.

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