[SoxScout]

Quote

In a separate deal, the Sox are believed to be nearing an agreement with free-agent catcher Josh Bard, according to baseball sources. The one-year deal, which is not guaranteed, is worth $1.6 million and includes a team option, according to the source.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/reds...near_deals.html

In 178 AB last season he hit .202/.279/.270

This post has been edited by SoxScout: 02 January 2009 - 06:15 PM

[rembrat]

Does anyone have a reason to why he had such a shitty year last year? Injuries or bad luck or both?

I think I’d be pretty content with a Bard/Kottaras platoon but that’s mostly because I don’t want Varitek back at any price. It seems like the cry for the 2009 Boston Red Sox will be: “Let’s cross our fingers.”

This post has been edited by rembrat: 28 December 2008 - 08:45 PM

[SoxScout]

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpag...MLb&id=3526

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Josh Bard is probably done for the year with a strained right triceps.
A wasted year for Bard, who missed 13 games with a similar strain lsat month. He also missed 54 games with a high ankle sprain. Nick Hundley will get most of the starts in his place.

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Padres announced that catcher Josh Bard and LHP Shawn Estes cleared waivers and have elected to become free agents.
The Padres decided against waiting until December to non-tender Bard, who had his OPS drop from 943 in his first 93 games with the Padres in 2006 to 768 last year and 549 this season. He'll probably bounce back offensively, but he's a weak enough thrower that he may have a difficult time landing another starting job.

Quote

General manager Walt Jocketty said Tuesday that the Reds have a "mild" interest in free agent Josh Bard.
"He's coming off a rough year," Jocketty said. "We've had some interest in him in the past, so I don't want to completely dismiss it."

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The Red Sox and Josh Bard have reportedly agreed to a non-guaranteed one-year deal.
Bard had a pretty good run for the Padres in 2006 and 2007, but he'd be a weak choice as a regular catcher for a contender and we already know he's not suited for handling Tim Wakefield. As a true backup for someone other than Jason Varitek, he might work fine. However, the Red Sox may yet re-sign Varitek and find a backup elsewhere.

[Scoops Bolling]

This is excellent news. Bard's terrible numbers were primarily driven by bad luck in balls in play, as he had a .235 BABIP despite a LD% of 21%. His peripherals also remained quite good, with a K:BB of about 3:4. Even better for the Sox, he is also a perfect fit as a platoon partner for either a guy like Saltalamacchia, or even Kottaras.
Bard vs LHP: .308/.376/.454/.830

With normal luck, not to mention getting away from Petco (OPS of .820 away from Petco in his time with the Padres), Josh Bard could be a major bargain for the Sox in 2009.

This post has been edited by Scoops Bolling: 28 December 2008 - 08:51 PM

[67WasBest]

Could be just a depth signing, but could indicate the rumors about Wakefield calling it quite are accurate.

[Blacken]

I think he's the "oh, shit" for Kottaras/Brown.

At least, I hope he is. Thanks for all you've done, Cap'n Varitek, now please go play elsewhere.

[sittingstill]

SD UT, "Padres prune 40-man roster by five, cut loose Bard and Estes," October 6, 2008

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Bard revealed Monday that an injury to his right wrist suffered during 2007 playoff race caused him problems this year. A cortisone shot enabled him to play down the stretch in 2007, and if the Padres had won the season's 163rd game, Bard would have received a second cortisone shot to get through the playoffs. The torn tendon sheath required surgery last October. Bard then spent eight weeks in a cast.

“Coming to spring training this year, I wasn't ready yet after my wrist surgery,” he said. “I hadn't swung a bat until Feb. 15, and with (catcher) Michael (Barrett) there, I felt like I needed to win a spot. I just don't know if I was where I should be. That's my responsibility. It was my decision. Then I got off to a rough start, and I just couldn't get going. Then I got run over at the plate (by Pujols).”

[OCD SS]

rembrat, on Dec 28 2008, 08:35 PM, said:

It seems like the cry for the 2009 Boston Red Sox will be: “Let’s cross our fingers.”

Or "2009: one of the 3 out of 10."

[roundegotrip]

One more nail in the coffin of Varitek's career in a Red Sox uniform. Looks like Bard is going to sign the deal I thought Varitek should get, but for even less money.

2009 James projections:
Tek: 238/334/392, 0.45 BB/K
Bard: 268/337/392, 0.76 BB/K

[Scoops Bolling]

roundegotrip, on Dec 28 2008, 09:31 PM, said:

One more nail in the coffin of Varitek's career in a Red Sox uniform. Looks like Bard is going to sign the deal I thought Varitek should get, but for even less money.

2009 James projections:
Tek: 238/334/392, 0.45 BB/K
Bard: 268/337/392, 0.76 BB/K

Marcel projections:
Bard: .266/.342/.395/.737
Tek: .233/.325/.385/.710

[Jim Gosger]

Scoops Bolling, on Dec 28 2008, 09:51 PM, said:

Marcel projections:
Bard: .266/.342/.395/.737
Tek: .233/.325/.385/.710

Yes, but Varitek hit 284/378/484 vs LHP last year. That's a little better than his career of 284/362/468. His OPS+ is 111 vs LH and 96 vs. RH for his career. I would really like to bring him back to catch against LHP and perhaps to be Wake's caddy. He can relearn to catch Wakefield.

[Scoops Bolling]

Jim Gosger, on Dec 28 2008, 10:07 PM, said:

Yes, but Varitek hit 284/378/484 vs LHP last year. That's a little better than his career of 284/362/468. His OPS+ is 111 vs LH and 96 vs. RH for his career. I would really like to bring him back to catch against LHP and perhaps to be Wake's caddy. He can relearn to catch Wakefield.

I'm not sure if you necessarily meant to be replying to me, but the issue I have with this idea is simple: Do you really think Varitek can be convinced to be a the lesser partner of a platoon? If the idea is to have him and X platoon, then Varitek's going to get the minority of ABs simply by virtue of being the "vs. LHP" portion of the platoon. Even if you factor in Wakefield's potential starts, and say that Varitek starts in those games regardless of the opposing pitcher, then he is still likely going to get the minority of the ABs. Will Varitek really sign if he only gets 250 ABs? Are the Red Sox going to have to increase his role because he's the "captain"?

Edit: Changed Bard to X because I forgot the whole idea was for Bard to be starting against LHP.

This post has been edited by Scoops Bolling: 28 December 2008 - 11:03 PM

[roundegotrip]

Bard's a career 288/341/443 vs. LHP. He's 6 year's younger, and his chances of bouncing back from a down year (due to injuries) are a lot better than Varitek's chances at an age when even the best catchers usually see their production drop off a cliff. Signing Bard would seem to make Varitek redundant. If true, I think it's a signal that Tek is not coming back. I don't think it matters what Varitek would or wouldn't be willing to do. He has no apparent leverage here, and the Sox likely just replaced his production for less money than he's looking for.

[Drek717]

Anyone think this lends some credence to the "Wakefield is retiring" rumor? Not a huge "gotcha!" bit of evidence but if that where to be the case this would make even more sense (not that it isn't a solid signing anyhow).

[Bowlerman9]

Drek717, on Dec 29 2008, 07:08 AM, said:

Anyone think this lends some credence to the "Wakefield is retiring" rumor? Not a huge "gotcha!" bit of evidence but if that where to be the case this would make even more sense (not that it isn't a solid signing anyhow).

Sure, but no. Obviously it could mean that. But I think the fact that this is a non-guaranteed contract just adds to potential depth. Between Bard, Kottaras, Brown, the potential to re-sign Varitek, and the potential to acquire Salty/TT/Montero ...... really, any two of those guys could be our catchers come opening day, and I believe Brown and Kottaras both have experience with the Zink's knuckler, and Bard and Varitek have both caught Wake.

It's entirely possible, but this move doesnt tell us anything, IMHO.

[RetractableRoof]

Bowlerman9, on Dec 29 2008, 07:34 AM, said:

Sure, but no. Obviously it could mean that. But I think the fact that this is a non-guaranteed contract just adds to potential depth. Between Bard, Kottaras, Brown, the potential to re-sign Varitek, and the potential to acquire Salty/TT/Montero ...... really, any two of those guys could be our catchers come opening day, and I believe Brown and Kottaras both have experience with the Zink's knuckler, and Bard and Varitek have both caught Wake.

It's entirely possible, but this move doesnt tell us anything, IMHO.

I know it sounds far fetched, but it could also be part of a negotiating mechanism with Boras/Varitek assuming they do have any appetite for him at all. Cheap money for the position, if the Sox could fashion enough of a 'possible' catching approach to the season this way, it would make clear to Boras/Varitek that they aren't overpaying for his services. Not sure if I want him back at any price, but if the Sox front office does, this might be part of a way to get 'their' price.

I don't want to see Bard as the number one catcher though...

[Corsi Combover]

Drek717, on Dec 29 2008, 07:08 AM, said:

Anyone think this lends some credence to the "Wakefield is retiring" rumor? Not a huge "gotcha!" bit of evidence but if that where to be the case this would make even more sense (not that it isn't a solid signing anyhow).

FWIW, Dale Arnold mentioned today that he has heard rumblings of Wakefield retiring.

[Rudy Pemberton]

I'm confused as to why Bard took a non guaranteed deal in December. It also seems somewhat rare to see a deal of this amount be non-guaranteed, doesn't it? Ultimately, I could see such a move in February, but seems curious now.

[Foulkey Reese]

Corsi Combover, on Dec 29 2008, 04:45 PM, said:

FWIW, Dale Arnold mentioned today that he has heard rumblings of Wakefield retiring.

Any more details on this?

[Corsi Combover]

Foulkey Reese, on Dec 29 2008, 06:49 PM, said:

Any more details on this?

Nothing more than that. He just said "I've heard rumors that Wakefield could be retiring, but who knows." Nothing else.