Ben

Bowden

Bowden was jettisoned from the Athletics’ 40-man roster earlier this month but winds up returning on a new deal after compiling a pedestrian 4.22 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 7/5 K/BB ratio over 10 2/3 innings across 11 relief outings this past season. The 31-year-old southpaw will compete for a spot in the club’s season-opening relief mix during spring training.

Bowden and Maldonado will become free agents. Shuster, who was claimed off waivers from the White Sox in August and went on to finish the season in the minors, doesn’t have that right, so he’ll stay in the organization for now.

Bowden landed on the injured list in late August with a left lat strain. Once it became clear that he wouldn’t be able to return before the end of the season, it was an inevitability that he would be transferred to the 60-day IL to give the A’s additional flexibility with their 40-man roster.

It’s a tough break for the Athletics and for Bowden, who had done a nice job with a 4.22 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 7/5 K/BB ratio across his first 10 2/3 innings with the ballclub. No word yet on how long they anticipate him being sidelined for. Eduarniel Nuñez was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to take his spot in the A’s bullpen.

Bowden will have a chance to make his first appearance with the A’s after he signed a minor-league contract with the club back in December. The 30-year-old will likely be nothing more than middle-inning depth in this stint.

Bowden’s last appearance in the big leagues came back in 2021 when he posted a lackluster 6.56 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 42/21 K/BB ratio across 35 2/3 innings (39 appearances) for the Rockies. The 30-year-old southpaw spent all of last year at in the Braves’ organization at Triple-A Gwinnett, compiling a pedestrian 4.03 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 35/17 K/BB ratio across 29 innings (27 appearances). He’ll function as emergency left-handed relief depth for the rebuilding Athletics.

Bowden latched on with the Braves last November on a minor league pact and didn’t make it back to the big leagues. The 29-year-old southpaw last appeared in the majors during the 2021 season when he made 39 appearances for the Rockies. He compiled a serviceable 4.03 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 35/17 K/BB ratio across 29 innings (27 appearances) this season for Triple-A Gwinnett.

Anderson appeared in three games for Atlanta during spring camp and posted a 6.14 ERA over 7 and 1/3 innings of work. The 25-year-old struggled to keep the ball in play; two of his five hits allowed during camp were home runs. The former first-round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft hasn’t pitched in the majors since the 2022 season after he missed the entirety of last season due to Tommy John surgery.

The 29-year-old southpaw hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since the 2021 season when he made 39 appearances for the Rockies. Bowden spent the 2023 campaign at Triple-A Lehigh Valley where he registered a 4.64 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and a 76/32 K/BB ratio over 52 1/3 frames. He adds bullpen depth from the left side for the Braves.

Head and Bowden figure to get a chance sometime this season for the Phillies when the need arises for some additional bullpen reinforcements.