UNC Baseball: Daniel Bard Staying Put with Rockies

The former UNC baseball pitcher signed a contract extension with Colorado prior to the August 2nd trade deadline.

Daniel Bard has had a rollercoaster career in Major League Baseball. After going through plenty of ups and downs,  the 37-year-old reliever was considered to be one of the top relievers on the trade market this year.

However, the Rockies closer is staying put in Colorado after both sides agreed to a contract extension earlier this afternoon.

Contending teams are always looking to improve their bullpen headed down the stretch of the season and into the playoffs, and Bard has been one of the better closers in the league this season.  It is understandable why teams in the playoff race were targeting him, however it appears he was a piece the Rockies just did not want to give up. The former Diamond Heel has a 3-3 record with an impressive 1.91 ERA, 1.035 WHIP, and 21 saves this season.

With Bard being an older player on a Colorado team that is eleven games under .500 and in last place in the NL West, it would not have been surprising for the Rockies to shop him to a team in a pennant chase in exchange for some young talent.

Bard has had a wild career, and he is probably satisfied to stay with Colorado, a team that gave him a chance and he has found a nice home with.

After his playing days at North Carolina were over, Bard spent the early days of his professional career bouncing up and down from the minor leagues to the big leagues as a member of the Boston Red Sox, who drafted him in the first round of the 2006 MLB Draft.  After a rough patch in which Bard briefly retired from the sport, he was given another opportunity with the Rockies and has made the most of it, winning the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2020.

During his career at Carolina, Bard was part of a stellar pitching staff that featured another future MLB arm, Andrew Miller.  The Houston native earned plenty of recognition both in the ACC and nationally and helped lead the Heels all the way to the College World Series Finals in 2006.

Daniel Bard has been a great example of persistence and resilience throughout his career, and he will be sticking with an organization that clearly values him in Denver.

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