Daniel Bard: Everything you need to know

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