Bard announced his retirement from baseball after nine major-league seasons Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Bard will hang up his cleats after posting a 3.74 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 475 strikeouts, while also adding 66 saves over 457.1 innings in 408 appearances, including 10 starts, with the Red Sox and Rockies over his nine-year major-league career. The right-hander signed a minor-league deal with Seattle in June, but he has now decided it's time to call it a career.

Bard signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Wednesday, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Fully recovered from a flexor tendon repair surgery he underwent in April 2024, Bard threw in front of several scouts in May and evidently did well enough to capture Seattle's attention. The 39-year-old righty will begin building up at the team's complex in Arizona before joining the bullpen at Triple-A Tacoma. If he proves to be effective in the minors, Bard could work his way into the Mariners' bullpen, though his days of being used as a closer are likely behind him at this point.

Bard (elbow) threw in front of representatives for approximately 10 MLB teams in a showcase event last week, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The flexor tendon surgery Bard required in April 2024 looked to be a potential career-ending procedure, but the 39-year-old has apparently made a full recovery and is hoping to continue playing in 2025. According to Bradford, teams in the AL West and NL West in particular have expressed the most interest in Bard, who turned in a 4.56 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 47:49 K:BB in 49.1 innings during his final season with the Rockies in 2023. Bard saved at least 20 games in the two seasons prior to that, but coming a major elbow surgery, he's unlikely to garner serious consideration for closing duties no matter where he signs. In fact, Bard may have to settle for a minor-league deal and pitch effectively at the Triple-A level before getting another look in the majors.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Bard (elbow) is back with the team, rehabbing in Denver when the Rockies have homestands, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bard is out for the remainder of the 2024 season while he recovers from right flexor tendon surgery, but the 38-year-old wants to make a comeback in 2025. After some self-reflection, Bard came to the conclusion that he wants to see if he's "got it next spring." The former closer for Colorado will be a free agent after this season and it's currently unclear when exactly he'll be able to return to the mound in a full capacity.

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

EDGE Analysis

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.

Bard (knee) will undergo right flexor tendon surgery and miss the rest of the 2024 season, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bard started the season on the 15-day injured list while rehabbing from a cleanup procedure on his left knee in mid-February. The surgery on his right elbow will put Bard on the shelf for the rest of the season, and it could be his last year with the Rockies as the 38-year-old is a free agent in 2025. Justin Lawrence and Tyler Kinley will presumably continue as the main closers for Colorado.

The Rockies placed Bard (knee) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Bard missed the entirety of spring training after undergoing a cleanup procedure on his left knee in mid-February. According to MLB.com, the right-hander also received platelet-rich plasma injections in his forearm this offseason, but working his way back from the knee procedure seems to be the veteran reliever's chief concern. Bard had been scheduled to resume throwing bullpen sessions this week, and he could be ready to face hitters at some point in the first or second week of April before heading out on a rehab assignment. Heading into spring training, he was expected to factor into the Rockies' unsettled closer picture, but Justin Lawrence and Tyler Kinley now look to be the top candidates for saves.

Bard did not need to have the meniscus repaired as initially expected during his arthroscopic left knee surgery Wednesday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

He merely had a cleanup performed instead, which has shortened his timetable to return from 5-to-7 weeks down to four weeks. A stint on the injured list still seems likely for Bard, but it might now be a relatively short one. Once healthy, the 38-year-old could eventually be in the mix for saves in Colorado's bullpen.

Bard (forearm) is undergoing meniscus surgery on his left knee Tuesday and is expected to begin the regular season on the injured list, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bard finished 2023 on the injured list with a flexor strain in his right forearm and will begin 2024 in the same fashion after he suffered a torn meniscus. The 38-year-old had a 4.56 ERA and 47:49 K:BB in 49.1 innings last season and was expected to compete for the closer role during spring training. A 5-to-7 week recovery timeline means he likely won't be game ready until April.