DANIEL BARD NEWS

Nearing mound work Bard (elbow) plans to start throwing off a mound in early February and hopes to be ready to pitch in games early in the season, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Impact Bard underwent right flexor tendon surgery in April and is currently a free agent. The 39-year-old wants to continue his career, though, and hopes to sign with a team by April after proving his health, with the goal of being game-ready not long after that. Bard wasn't all that successful when he last pitched in 2023, holding a 4.56 ERA and 47:49 K:BB over 49.1 innings with the Rockies. However, he had a 1.79 ERA and 69:25 K:BB across 60.1 frames in 2023 and should be able to land at least a minor-league contract for 2025, provided his arm bounces back OK from surgery.

JANUARY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Bard hasn't authored his final verse in Majors DENVER -- Daniel Bard is willing to see whether he has another comeback in him. Bard hoped to finish 2024 -- the second and final year of hi...

AUGUST 29, 2024 • MLB.COM

Moved to 60-day IL The Rockies transferred Bard (elbow) to the 60-day IL on Sunday.

Impact The move comes with Bard undergoing right flexor tendon surgery on his right elbow. With Bard set to miss the rest of the season, the Rockies selected the contract of southpaw Ty Blach from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday.

APRIL 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Moves to injured list Bard was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a right flexor strain, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Impact The veteran right-hander presumably picked up the injury Tuesday versus the Dodgers when he allowed a run on a hit and two walks over one inning. Bard finished this season with a 4.56 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 47:49 K:BB in 49.1 innings and is under contract for 2024 at $9.5 million.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back from injured list Bard (forearm) was activated from the injured list Monday, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.

Impact Bard landed on the injured list earlier this month, but he will rejoin Colorado's bullpen just a couple days after he was first eligible to do so. He was tagged for 13 runs -- eight earned -- in 4.0 innings over his last five appearances with the Rockies, so it seems unlikely he will join the late-inning mix, even with fellow reliever Justin Lawrence tending to an ankle injury.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Faces hitters Bard (forearm) threw a live batting practice Friday, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.

Impact Bard resumed throwing Sept. 5 -- two days after he landed on the injured list with right forearm fatigue -- and has now progressed to facing live hitters. Bard likely won't return from the IL when eligible Monday, but manager Bud Black said he expects Bard to return before the end of the season.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Resumes throwing Bard (forearm) threw a bullpen session Sept. 5, MLB.com reports.

Impact Bard landed on the injured list Sept. 3, but he felt well enough to throw only a few days later. He is hoping to return in time to make three or four more appearances this season, though the team has yet to provide a clear timeline for his potential activation.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Lands on IL The Rockies placed Bard on the 15-day injured list Sunday with right forearm fatigue.

Impact After giving up seven runs in two frames over his last two outings, Bard will head to the injured list to ensure that his forearm is fully-healthy for his next time on the mound. Chase Anderson (shoulder) was activated from the 15-day IL in a corresponding move and will start Sunday against Toronto.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Can't find strike zone Bard (4-2) allowed four earned runs on four walks and one hit while striking out none across 0.2 innings to blow the save and take the loss Wednesday against the Nationals.

Impact Justin Lawrence had pitched in three of the last five days entering Wednesday's game, likely leaving him unavailable for the matchup. As a result, Bard got the chance to close out the game with a three-run lead, however, he allowed the first three batters he faced to reach base and was charged with four earned runs despite letting only one ball leave the infield. He has turned in scoreless appearances in seven of nine tries in July, though control of the zone continues to be a major problem as he has a 6:8 K:BB across 10 frames in that span.

JULY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Reliable reliever Bard struggles as Rox allow another late rally WASHINGTON -- Rockies reliever Daniel Bard’s delivery was dysfunctional, his pitches scattershot in the ninth inning Wednesday afternoon, bu...

JULY 26, 2023 • MLB.COM

Blows save Sunday Bard allowed two runs on a hit, two walks and hit-by-pitch in one inning, taking a blown save Sunday versus the Yankees.

Impact Bard has just worked his way back into high-leverage mix, but he threw just seven of 18 pitches for strikes in this sloppy outing. The Rockies were ultimately able to get the win in the 11th inning. He's allowed multiple runs in three of his last nine appearances, making him a somewhat risky reliever in fantasy. For the season, he's at a 2.20 ERA despite a 1.38 WHIP and 28:26 K:BB through 32.2 innings. He's added a save and three holds.

JULY 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up first save Bard pitched a scoreless ninth inning and didn't allow a baserunner to earn the save Friday against the Giants.

Impact Bard has been pitching in high-leverage situations of late, as he's picked up two holds and now his first save of the season in his last five appearances. He's allowed two earned runs in that span, though he has only two strikeouts as compared to three walks. However, Bard's usage Friday suggests he could continue to see save opportunities, as Justin Lawrence -- the presumptive closer -- pitched the eighth inning.

JULY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes first loss Bard (3-1) allowed two earned runs on two walks and three hits while striking out one to take the loss Wednesday against the Reds.

Impact Bard entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with the score knotted at 3-3. He served up a two-run home run to the third batter he faced and ultimately escaped further damage by striking out TJ Friedl with the bases loaded. Bard has walked a tightrope most of the season -- indicated by his 1.52 WHIP and 8.0 BB/9 -- but has still managed to maintain a 1.52 ERA. As long as he continues to let runners on base at that clip, he'll likely be on the outside looking in for save opportunities.

JUNE 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pitches in ninth inning Bard didn't allow a baserunner and struck out one in the ninth inning of Tuesday's win over the Red Sox.

Impact Bard entered the game in the ninth inning with the score knotted at 4-4, and he had little trouble putting Boston's lineup away in order. The Rockies' closer situation remains murky, as Justin Lawrence entered the game in the eighth frame while Pierce Johnson ultimately picked up an extra-inning save. Manager Bud Black suggested that Johnson -- the team's primary closer this season -- would lose save opportunities moving forward, though it's been difficult to decipher the team's usage of its alternative options. Bard appears to have entered the mix for closer duties, but he has a concerning 18:19 K:BB and 1.45 WHIP despite maintaining a 0.87 ERA across 20.2 innings this season.

JUNE 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

10 years later, Bard comes up big in return to Fenway BOSTON -- Rockies reliever Daniel Bard vowed to love Fenway Park again. Bard recalls coming up from Charlotte for family vacations, trips to...

JUNE 13, 2023 • MLB.COM

Struggling with control Bard allowed one hit and two walks while striking out one across 0.2 innings Friday against the Royals.

Impact Bard entered the game in the ninth inning with the Rockies up 7-2, marking his first appearance in the ninth inning with a lead this season. He retired two of the first three batters he faced but was forced to exit the game with the bases loaded. Justin Lawrence recorded the final out of the game to tally the save. Though Pierce Johnson has struggled in the closer role, Bard has walked 13 batters across 16.1 innings for the campaign and is unlikely to see consistent save chances in the near future.

JUNE 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pitching in low-leverage situations Bard allowed one hit across 0.2 scoreless innings Wednesday against the Brewers.

Impact Bard has made five appearances since returning from the injured list April 19. He has yet to allow an earned run across five frames, though he also has just a 3:2 K:BB. Most importantly, Bard has pitched primarily in low-leverage situations and does not appear to be a contender for saves at this point.

MAY 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Targeting Aroldis Chapman and Daniel Bard, updated RP rankings and more: The Bullpen Report Aroldis Chapman and Daniel Bard are now in the mix as speculative saves pickups. Plus weekly rankings for SOLDS and more!

APRIL 20, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Reinstated off injured list Bard (personal) was reinstated off the 15-day injured list by the Rockies on Wednesday.

Impact Bard returns to the Rockies after he was placed on the injured list just before Opening Day after experiencing anxiety and struggling with command in both spring training and the World Baseball Classic. The right-hander has operated as the closer for the Rockies over the last two seasons, and while he should return to that role eventually, he may work in a few low-leverage situations to begin his 2023 campaign to ease him back into action.

APRIL 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Could be activated Tuesday Bard (personal) rejoined the Rockies in Denver on Monday and could be activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Pirates, Patrick Saunders of The De...

Impact Bard was a surprise addition to the 15-day IL in the hours leading up to Opening Day after he had experienced anxiety and struggled with his command during the Cactus League and the World Baseball Classic, but he appears to be in a better spot both physically and mentally nearly three weeks later. At least from a performance standpoint, Bard looked to be dialed in during his rehab outing at Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday, when he recorded three punchouts and allowed one hit and no walks over a scoreless 23-pitch, 17-strike inning. Whenever Bard is activated from the IL, he could be eased back in with a low-leverage outing or two, but he'll likely supplant Pierce Johnson as the team's preferred closer sooner rather than later.

APRIL 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Starting rehab stint Bard (personal) reported to Triple-A Albuquerque to begin a rehab assignment Sunday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Impact The veteran right-hander has been unavailable to begin the season due to anxiety issues, but he appears to closing in on his return from the injured list. If Bard feels good while pitching for the Isotopes, he could rejoin the Rockies sometime this week.

APRIL 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Faces live hitters Bard (anxiety) faced live hitters Tuesday for the first time since landing on the injured list March 30, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.

Impact Bard did not start the season with the Rockies due to anxiety, but he's staying ready on the side and could perhaps feel well enough mentally to be activated before the end of April. Pierce Johnson has been serving as Colorado's primary closer in his absence.

APRIL 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

With team, throws side session Bard, who is currently on the 15-day injured list while he experiences anxiety, remains with the Rockies and threw a bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.

Impact While Rockies manager Bud Black didn't offer a hint about when Bard might be back from the IL, the skipper noted that the right-hander's fastball reached 96 miles per hour in the session, only a couple ticks behind his average velocity in 2022. Black didn't go into specifics about how Bard's pitches looked from a control and command standpoint, however, which is noteworthy after the Rockies' projected closer struggled with locating his offerings and repeating his delivery during spring training and the World Baseball Classic. Bard notably battled the "yips" for a significant chunk of the seasons in his late 20s and early 30s before resurfacing in the majors in 2020 as a 35-year-old and becoming the Rockies' closer, so the organization is likely to proceed slowly with reintegrating him into games until both he and the coaching staff feel he's ready for the challenge. In Bard's absence, Pierce Johnson has converted the Rockies' lone save opportunity to date.

APRIL 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with anxiety Bard (not injury related) said he's dealing with anxiety on and off the field, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Impact Bard, who developed the yips and was out of the league from 2013 until 2020, had serious control issues this spring. "From my experience, knowing myself, I think just taking a step back, taking time to work through things, get it right, is the best approach," Bard said. All things considered, fantasy managers shouldn't expect effective, high-leverage work from the right-hander in the immediate future.

MARCH 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Goes on IL due to anxiety Bard said Thursday that he's starting the year on the 15-day IL because of anxiety, Danielle Allentuck of the Denver Gazette reports.

Impact Bard has a history of the yips -- it's partly why he didn't appear in a game at the MLB level between 2014-2019 -- and he said he's decided to be open and honest about his mental struggles. The 37-year-old right-hander had been set to operate as the Rockies' locked-in closer in 2023 after totaling 34 saves for the club last season. Dinelson Lamet, Pierce Johnson, Brad Hand and Brent Suter could all factor into the ninth-inning mix in Bard's absence.

MARCH 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE