REPORT: Chicago Cubs will not tender reliever Daniel Bard
Daniel Bard will not receive a tendered contract from the Chicago Cubs before Monday night’s deadline, according to Cubs Insider Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago.
Mar 10, 2012; Port Charlotte, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daniel Bard (51) pitches during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. The Red Sox defeated the Rays 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sources said the Cubs will not tender Bard a contract before Monday night’s deadline, though there’s a chance he could stay in the organization on a non-roster deal.The Cubs hoped to catch lightning in a bottle with Bard, a former first-round pick out of the University of North Carolina who had once been an elite setup guy with the Boston Red Sox.
Bard, 28, posted a career-best 1.93 ERA and three saves in 73 appearances during the 2010 season for the Red Sox. He pitched in only two games this season for the Red Sox and made 16 appearances at three different minor league levels. He walked 27 in 15 1/3 innings and posted a dismal 6.46 ERA.
The right-hander did not throw a pitch for the Cubs after they claimed him off waivers in September. While in Puerto Rico winter ball this November, he gave up seven earned runs, walked nine, hit three batters and threw four wild pitches in just three games.
The Cubs have a handful of players which are arbitration-eligible: infielders Darwin Barney, Donnie Murphy, Luis Valbuena, outfielder Nate Schierholtz and pitchers Pedro Strop, Travis Wood, James Russell and Jeff Samardzija.
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