February 15: While Bard did undergo an arthroscopic knee procedure, the injury did not require a meniscus repair as initially expected. MLB.com’s Thomas Harding reports that the Rox are hopeful that Bard could be back in around a month as opposed to the initial 5-7 week recovery timeline.
February 13: Rockies right-hander Daniel Bard tells Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post that he suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee during a throwing session last week. He’s slated to undergo arthroscopic surgery today, meaning he’ll likely miss the entirety of spring training and be delayed in his start to the 2024 season.
Bard, 38, is entering the second season of a two-year, $19MM contract extension to which the Rockies signed him prior to the 2022 trade deadline. The Rox had received widespread interest in Bard, who was in the midst of a dominant comeback season, but opted to instead hang onto the righty for another two seasons. He finished out that ’22 campaign with a stellar 1.79 ERA, a 28.2% strikeout rate, 10.2% walk rate and a hefty 34 saves. The contract extension has not played out as either party hoped, however.
Bard opened the 2023 season on the injured list while focusing on his long-running battle with anxiety. He returned in mid-April but experienced significant command issues similar those he’d faced nearly a decade ago, prior to his remarkable and inspiring late-30s comeback. The flamethrowing righty kept his ERA to a passable 4.56 in 2023 but did so in spite of a sky-high 21.1% walk rate that checked in higher than his diminished 20.3% strikeout rate. He finished out the season back on the injured list, this time owing to a flexor strain.
That injury didn’t require surgery, and Bard was expected to compete for a leverage role in camp with the Rockies this year. Instead, he’ll now presumably open the season on the injured list and ramp back up on a minor league rehab assignment once the 2024 campaign is underway. Righties Justin Lawrence and Tyler Kinley are the favorites for late-inning work in manager Bud Black’s bullpen, and Lawrence ought to have the leg up in terms of closing opportunities after saving 11 games in 2023 and posting a 3.72 ERA, 23.9% strikeout rate and 11% walk rate in 75 innings of relief.
This extension is just looking better and better every day lol. Didn’t make sense then, makes even less sense now. Yikes.
“Didn’t make sense then, makes even less sense now.” You just described 99% of the Rockies’ contracts.
Pulling hard for DB. Get well soon kid.
They guy is in an unlucky streak right now. I guess the only luck was the Rockies willing to extend him 2 years. I hope it’s not a major issue and he can pitch this season.
Nothing against Bard but…the Rockies gotta Rockie.
Struggling to think of a more Rockies-esque move than receiving widespread interest in an old rental reliever in the middle of a dominant year and deciding to extend him for a period that still doesn’t align with your window of contention, and then having the deal blow up in your face anyway.
I use to like Rockies threads, but they have not only become repetitive, everyone is beating me to the best lines.
The only thing I could add is that they only missed 1st by 43 games. in 2022, Do the Rox ever make the correct move?
Let the spring training games begin. In other words let the injuries be declared.
Raise your hand if you thought Bard was gonna be the Redsox closer for years to come… a shame it didn’t work out but glad to see he made it back… good luck DB
We’re fielding calls. We’ve got some players who are desirable and I can’t speak to it, but I’ll give you some perspective. Team A might call on one of our players and their front office might say, “We like this guy.” And our front office will say, “Well, yeah, he’s a good player, you should be on that player.” But this happens a little bit, too. “Hey, you guys have a Range Rover. We’ll take your Range Rover and we’ll give you our Honda Accord.” And teams expect you to do that. Why would we do that? “How could you not trade your Range Rover?” Because we might try to keep our Range Rover! Rather than trade it for your Subaru!
Do you sell Porsches, Jimmy?
Uh, he’s talking about trading a Range Rover for a Subaru. Well, now…
Well, I’d be interested in a Porsche but I’m also playing a personal game of “ducking under the CBT”…
I think he sells something else. I’m not sure it’s legal.
this should not hurt the Rockies any more than the Rockies’ Front Office hurts the Rockies.
The dude is broken.
Well, at least he got his payday for 2024, hopefully he comes back healthy for the Rockies!
The Rockies are known for doing a little splurging every once in a while, Kris Bryant as an example. So, I think one of the Boras clients ends up with the Rockies. My guess it’s between Snell and Chapman. That’s my dark horse theory.
Five to seven weeks of not having to contribute to Rockies defeats. Sounds fair enough.
I tore my meniscus four years ago and still am not right. Professional athletes tear their meniscus and are back on the field in a few weeks running full speed.
MLBTR commenters just waiting for a Rockies post, vomit all over the organization for a player injury. Speaks pretty clearly about those posting.
I would agree with your take. IF the rockies often did meaningful things. That impacted something towards longer term excellence.
The Rockies exist.
They operate like an entrenched organization. With an exec that is close to retiring. Doesn’t want to upset too much.
May come up with a few nonsensical theories. No insight. No creativity.
Rest well king
Feel bad for any guy where his livelihood is affected by injury. I feel even worse for him he had to wear that hideous uniform.
Quality extension by an even higher quality franchise.
Well it’s been one day and one UCL injury and one throwing session injury. We’re off to a flying start.