Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Position: RHP
Bats/Throws: R/R
Date of Birth: 6/25/1985

Stats: 37 G, 21 saves, 1.91 ERA, 43 SO, 1.035 WHIP
Advanced Stats: 3.66 xFIP, 2.61 xERA, 3.51 SIERA, 27.6 K%, 12.2 BB%

Rundown

With the trade deadline under two weeks away, the Mets still have some holes to fill, specifically in the bullpen. While Edwin Díaz and Adam Ottavino have both been fantastic, Drew Smith and Seth Lugo have dealt with inconsistencies. With the Rockies in a position to sell, the Mets should keep their eye on Daniel Bard, who’s gone from one of the best feel-good stories in baseball to one of the league’s most reliable bullpen arms.

Bard was a first-round pick by the Red Sox in 2006 and debuted in Boston in 2009, but he didn’t pitch from 2014-2019 after developing the yips. The former Tar Heel made a triumphant return to the majors in 2020, serving as the Rockies’ closer and winning NL Comeback Player of the Year honors.

After an up-and-down 2021 season, Bard has had his finest season as a big leaguer this year. He’s gone 20-for-22 in save opportunities, registering a 1.91 ERA/3.55 FIP and a 1.009 WHIP with 43 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings (10.3 K/9). His Statcast numbers are strong too, as he sports a 2.61 xERA and he’s consistently been able to induce weak contact, with an average exit velocity of just 87 MPH. Bard’s opponents also have an average launch angle of just 6.6 degrees, which has resulted in a career-best 53.3-percent ground-ball rate.

Bard has heavily relied on his sinker and slider, using those two pitches almost 97 percent of the time. His sinker’s average velocity has increased to 98 MPH and after opponents torched it for a .385 average and .513 slugging percentage in 2021, they have just a .167 batting average, .205 xBA, and .288 xWOBA against the pitch in 2022. In 2021, Bard’s sinker only registered an 8.2-percent whiff rate and 6.1-percent strikeout rate, but this season, those numbers have jumped to 19.0 percent and 22.1 percent, respectively. All told, Bard has seen his sinker’s run value improve from plus-6 in 2021 to negative-3 in 2022.

Bard’s slider was his most effective pitch last year, and it’s still producing great numbers this season. Opponents have a .130 batting average and .212 xSLG against the pitch, and it has a negative-4 run value.

Bard’s main weakness has been his control, as it’s been his entire career. This year, he’s issued 18 free passes, giving him a 12.2-percent walk rate, the highest it’s been since 2012. For his career, Bard has averaged 4.3 BB/9 and has never recorded a full season with fewer than 3.0 BB/9.

Trade Package

Relievers can sometimes land teams with some big returns, but Bard is 37 years old and set to hit free agency after this season. While many contenders may want Bard in their bullpen, he isn’t a player worth getting into a bidding war over. Don’t expect any team to offer up top-10 organizational prospects, and it’s unlikely that this trade will require much MLB-ready talent. For the Mets, a trade offer could include catcher a prospects or two from the back-end of their top 30 prospect list.

Final Thoughts

Mets fans have been clamoring for more bullpen arms to provide some consistency. While Bard wouldn’t be a full-time closer in Flushing, the Mets should strongly consider making a run at him. The Mets have also lacked a pitcher who can get lefties out, and even as a righty, Bard has held southpaws to just a .187/.291/.307 batting line. He could serve as a strong bridge to Edwin Díaz, and could even step in as the closer on days when Díaz needs a rest.