7 trade destinations for Colorado Rockies closer Daniel Bard

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The Colorado Rockies have been entertaining offers for their impending free agents. One of them is closer Daniel Bard. In 37 games, he has 21 saves with a 1.91 ERA. He also has a 1.035 WHIP, a 3.55 FIP, and an average of 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. However, is walking 4.5 batters per nine innings.

An acquiring team would only have him for the next two months or so as he is a free agent at the end of the season. Fortunately for the Rockies, Bard could be a hot commodity because a lot of teams need bullpen help and Bard could be a closer or a setup man.

Here are 10 teams that could look to trade for Daniel Bard before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

The Boston Red Sox could look to trade for Daniel Bard

More than any other team besides the Rockies, the Boston Red Sox know Daniel Bard well since they drafted him in the first round in 2006. He was with them through 2013, pitching in the majors from 2009 through 2013.

The Red Sox have a bullpen ERA of 4.23, which is 23rd in the sport. Their bullpen ERA in July is also 5.53, which is 27th. They also don’t have a definitive closer. No Red Sox reliever has more than six saves but eight relievers have at least one save.

The Red Sox are in last place in the AL East but they still have a 50-50 record, which is just 3.5 games back for the last AL Wild Card spot so they could be desperate to get some bullpen help and try to claw back into the playoff picture.

DENVER, CO – JULY 3: Daniel Bard #52 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates after completing the ninth inning of a game with a win against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on July 3, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

The New York Yankees

The Yankees have one of the best bullpens in baseball so, on paper, you might think that they don’t need bullpen help but they have suffered a lot of injuries in their bullpen recently.

Miguel Castro (the Miguel Castro that the Rockies got in the Troy Tulowitzki trade) is on the IL with a shoulder injury. He won’t even throw a baseball for another two weeks, let alone be pitching in the majors. Setup man Michael King also is done for the year with an elbow injury. Former closer Aroldis Chapman has also been awful on the season (5.48 ERA, 5.61 FIP).

The Chicago White Sox

The White Sox are another team on the periphery of the playoff picture as they are also at .500 and 3.5 games back of the final AL Wild Card spot.

The White Sox have a good closer in Liam Hendriks (who was an All-Star) but their bullpen still has an ERA of 4.07, or 21st in baseball. One of their setup men (Reynaldo Lopez) is also on the 15-day IL. He has been great for them as he has a 2.98 ERA in 37 appearances.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 07: Daniel Bard #52 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning at Oracle Park on June 07, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Twins

The AL Central is a very weak division, as the Minnesota Twins are leading the division despite having the sixth-best record in the American League. One of their weaknesses is their bullpen, as they have a 3.92 ERA, which is 15th in the sport. Their bullpen ERA in July is 4.04, or 17th in baseball.

They do not have a lockdown closer as they have six relievers with at least one save. Their primary closer (Emilio Pagan) has nine saves but he also has an ERA of 5.03 and six blown saves.

The Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have a great closer on paper in Josh Hader. But he has been awful recently. He entered July 4 with an ERA of 1.05. Now, it is 4.36 because he has an ERA of 15.95 in his last nine appearances. He also had allowed at least one run in six of those games. Overall, their bullpen has a 5.53 ERA in the month of July, which is 26th.

In addition, relievers Brent Suter, Jandel Gustave, and Trevor Gott all have ERA’s north of 4.00.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JULY 10: Daniel Bard #52 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 10, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

The St. Louis Cardinals

The Rockies have traded Larry Walker and Nolan Arenado there so Rockies fans wouldn’t like him going there but the Cardinals need some bullpen help.

All-Star Ryan Helsley (0.65 ERA in 33 games) has been great but even with him, their 4.06 ERA is still 17th in the sport.

The San Diego Padres

Like the Blue Jays, the Padres have had a good bullpen overall. On the season, they are eighth in ERA at 3.70 but since July 1, they have a 5.58 ERA, which is 28th.

Like the Brewers, they also have a great closer on paper in Taylor Rogers but like with Hader, he has struggled a lot recently. In his last 11 games, he has allowed a run in eight of those games and he has an 8.74 ERA.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 26: Manager Bud Black #10 of the Colorado Rockies watches batting practice before the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 26, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

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