The Athletics selected Bowden's contract from Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.
Bowden has logged 32 outings -- all in relief -- for Las Vegas, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with a 45:15 K:BB over 36.2 innings. He made 11 relief appearances for the big club last season, registering a 4.22 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 7:5 K:BB across 10.2 frames. Bowden will likely take on a low-leverage role in the Athletics' bullpen in place of Luis Morales, who was optioned to Las Vegas in a corresponding move.