The Daniel Bard comeback story is the gift that keeps giving after the right-hander agreed to a two-year, $19 million contract extension with the Colorado Rockies, multiple outlets reported on Saturday.
The deal effectively takes the 37-year-old off the trade market after the closer was drawing a wide range of interest.
Control issues limited Bard to two appearances for the Boston Red Sox in 2013, and his career appeared finished from there after five seasons in the American League. But after seven years out of baseball, Bard returned with the Rockies in 2020.
While he had a 3.65 ERA in 23 outings in 2020, that ballooned to 5.21 in 67 appearances last year, although he did record 20 saves. He is back on top of his game this season at 3-3 with a 1.91 ERA and 21 saves, although the Rockies’ last-place standing made him a possible trade candidate.
Over eight major league seasons with the Red Sox and Rockies, Bard is 24-32 over 338 appearances (10 starts) and has 52 saves with 402 strikeouts in 385 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media