Yankees might've just been given bullpen lifeline after surprising Twins release

After two straight nights in which their bullpen nearly coughed up a late lead, the Yankees' need for more relief depth — or really any relief depth — has never been clearer. But as luck would have it, they may have just been thrown a lifeline thanks to an AL rival's roster crunch.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Wednesday that the Twins had released righty Matt Bowman rather than add him to the team's 40-man roster. Why one of MLB's worst bullpens has no use for a guy with a 1.69 ERA in Triple-A is a mystery, but it means the 34-year-old veteran is now a free agent — one who could make a ton of sense for the Yankees as they try to piece together a functional bullpen before trade deadline reinforcements arrive.

Yankees should jump at the chance to add Matt Bowman to their bullpen

Bowman owns a 4.38 ERA across parts of seven MLB seasons, so it's not like we're talking about a future closer here. But while he doesn't throw particularly hard (sitting in the low 90s with his sinker) or miss a ton of bats, he brings one very specific skill to the table: He induces a ton of ground balls. His 53.5% career ground-ball rate is well above the big-league average of 44.2%, and that number has been even higher at Triple-A St. Paul this season.

That might not sound like the flashiest profile, but at this point, the Yankees don't need flashy; they just need competent. Someone that Aaron Boone can hand the ball to in innings five through seven and be confident that he can get outs consistently.

With David Bednar regressing before our very eyes and two spots being taken up by long relievers in Paul Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough, there just aren't enough options in New York's 'pen at the moment. Bowman can throw strikes, keep the ball on the ground, and at least raise the floor a bit to prevent guys like Tim Hill and Brent Headrick from being worked into the ground before we even get to the All-Star break.

At this point, it's safe to assume that big changes are coming to the Yankee bullpen at the trade deadline; it's the team's one glaring weakness, after all. But you still need to get to the trade deadline, and if New York isn't going to fast-track any of its relief prospects from the minor leagues, Brian Cashman needs to grab any lifeline he can.

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