Daniel Bard believes his transition to the starting rotation is a work in progress, but doesn't expect any major differences in his appraoch this season. Bard was a starter in college at North Carolina and for one season in the minors. "I haven't pitched from a windup since 2007,'' Bard said. "But I'm getting used to it. It's not all that much movement to get to where I was in the stretch anyway. I'm pretty comfortable with it already, I actually think my control is a little better.''

The Red Sox and RHP Daniel Bard avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract. No word yet on the dollar amount, but it's probably something between the $1.825 million that Bard requested and the $1.4 million that he was offered when arbitration figures were exchanged on Tuesday. The Super Two right-hander has posted a sparkling 2.88 ERA and 213 strikeouts through the first 197 innings of his major league career. He'll get a shot at cracking the Red Sox' starting rotation in camp this spring.

Daniel Bard requested $1.825 million and was offered $1.4 million by the Red Sox when arbitration figures were exchanged Tuesday. Bard is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter as a Super Two player after posting a 2.88 ERA and 213 strikeouts over 197 innings during his first three seasons in the majors. Look for the two sides to eventually find some middle ground on a contract.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said Daniel Bard will be used as a starter in spring training but still might ultimately be the team's closer in 2012. Bard will be built up from two to four to six innings, and, at that point, the Red Sox will make a decision on his role for the season. "I told him to prepare to be a starter and if that, in fact, does not happen, to be ready and willing to be our closer," Valentine said. Bard was a starter in college and in his first year as a pro but moved to the bullpen after posting a horrific 7.08 ERA and 47/78 K/BB ratio in A-ball. It would enhance his chances of sticking in the rotation if the Sox are able to trade for Andrew Bailey or sign Ryan Madson.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said Daniel Bard's role for next season has not yet been decided. Indications are that Bard has shown a preference to start, and the Red Sox are considering the possibility but have not committed to it. Bard, of course, is the current top in-house option for the ninth inning with Jonathan Papelbon having departed, though the Sox are involved in talks for some free agent closers.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox have discussed converting Daniel Bard into a starter. Bard was a starter in college and in his first year as a pro but moved to the bullpen after posting a horrific 7.08 ERA and 47/78 K/BB ratio in A-ball. He said in spring training this year that he'd be interested in giving starting a try at some point, but the reality is that it's unlikely a move will be made, especially with Jonathan Papelbon no longer around.

Daniel Bard took his ninth loss of the season on Tuesday, surrendering two runs on two hits in 1 1/3 innings. Protecting a one-run lead, Bard was perfect in the seventh, but he two of the first three batters reached base in the eighth. He was replaced by Jonathan Papelbon, who served up a single and double to seal Boston's fate. Incredibly, Bard has four losses in his last six appearances, during which his ERA has jumped 111 points to 3.21.

The Red Sox plan to stick with a struggling Daniel Bard as their primary setup man. "Last year at this time, everybody wanted Bard to be the closer. We stuck with (Jonathan Papelbon), and we were OK," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said on Thursday. "I think there's certain players where we'd better figure it out as opposed to running from guys." Bard has taken a loss in three straight appearances, and posted a 17.36 ERA and 2.36 WHIP in 4 2/3 September innings. His eight losses on the season are the most for a Red Sox reliever since Derek Lowe dropped 10 games in 2001.

Daniel Bard gave up three more runs and took another loss Wednesday against the Blue Jays. That's losses in three straight appearances for Bard. He's given up runs in four of his five appearances this month. Bad defense played a role today, but some of it was Bard's own -- he threw wide of first on what should have been a sac bunt -- and he was the one who got himself into a jam by walking the first two batters he faced. Manager Terry Francona needs to stop blindly giving him the eighth inning until he works through this.

Daniel Bard was roasted for five runs on Wednesday in one inning of work, falling to 2-6 on the season. Bard gave up only one hit, but also walked three batters and hit another. After he departed with the bases loaded and two outs, Matt Albers served up a bases-clearing double to effectively hand Bard the loss. It was just one of those nights for Boston's normally stellar set-up man, who watched his ERA pop 66 points to 2.76.