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Bard: 'I know that opportunity is out there'

Email|Link|Comments (13) Posted by Chad Finn, Globe Staff January 2, 2009 04:48 PM

Josh Bard is back with the Red Sox and is looking forward to a fresh start in Boston.

The Red Sox formally announced today that they signed the veteran catcher, who had a brief stint with the club in 2006, to a non-guaranteed one-year contract for the 2009 season with a club option for '10. This will be Bard's second go-round with the Red Sox -- he hit .278 in seven games with the club in '06 after coming over from the Indians in the Coco Crisp deal that winter. However, he had trouble handling knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, and he was dealt along with reliever Cla Meredith to the Padres for catcher Doug Mirabelli on May 1 that season. Bard hit .338 with nine homers in 231 at-bats for the Padres after the trade.

"I think that going into the situation with [Wakefield] I think initially it felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders with every pitch that he threw and if I missed one the world was going to be over," Bard said today on a conference call. "I think that with maturity, you understand that everybody misses knuckleballs every once in a while and if you miss one that’s [to be expected from time to time]. I think understanding that this time around will give me a lot better insight on how to do this thing."

The club did not reveal the financial terms of the deal, but a source told the Globe's Tony Massarotti Tuesday that Bard's deal for '09 is worth $1.7 million, with incentives that could bring it to within the range of $2.5 million.

Bard, 30, batted .202 with one home run and 16 RBIs in 57 games for the San Diego Padres last season. He made just 47 starts behind the plate as his playing time was limited by two stints on the disabled list. He was sidelined May 22-July 24 with a sprained left ankle and August 9-22 with a strained right triceps

Bard is the only current Red Sox catcher with significant big-league experience -- George Kottaras has five at-bats in the majors -- and it's likely that another veteran backstop will be signed. It was reported previously that the Bard acquisition is not an indication that Jason Varitek will not return to the club.

Bard said today it was unclear what his role with the team will be this season, but he was hopeful he’d be catching more than once every five days.

"I think that this time it will be more than just catching [Wakefield], whether that means if we sign [Varitek] back whether that means spelling him on day games or catching more, I don’t know,” Bard said. " [Terry Francona] was very up front about the fact that he’s not going to put a number on it and I think it comes down to, like any other team in this league, the better you play, the more you’re going to play. I know that opportunity is out there."

In 2007, Bard batted .285 with five home runs and a career-high 51 RBIs. He also established personal bests in games (118), at-bats (389), runs (42), hits (111), doubles (27) and walks (50) and finished second in the National League with a .406 batting average with runners in scoring position.

Overall, he has a .265 batting average, with 28 home runs and 168 RBIs in 431 games with the Indians, Red Sox, and Padres.

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13 comments so far...

Wow-what a blockbuster deal. Theo really knows how to go after the big guns.

Posted by 38 Quiches January 2, 09 05:46 PM

You have to be kidding me. What are we bargain shopping now, I hope he can catch a Knuckleball now. Anybody have Ivan Rodriguez's cell number?

Posted by MP January 2, 09 06:25 PM

So why exactly did they get rid of Cash??? I thought he did well.

Posted by John Mc January 2, 09 07:09 PM

I still want Tek back. Two years twelve million, may the better man play.

Posted by atrain January 2, 09 08:01 PM

"he hit .278 in seven games with the club in '06 after coming over from the Indians"

Just seven? Seemed like w-a-a-a-y more than that, didn't it?

At any rate, the kid shows guts to come back here given how things went the first time around. I refuse to believe the knuckleball is "uncatchable" or requires an extra special catcher. Let the kid catch some non-Wakefield games to get his confidence up and he'll get the hang of it. Welcome back, Josh.

Posted by Harrybosch January 2, 09 08:03 PM

Don't anyone underestimate this guy. This is a great signing. He's been pushed and pulled all over the league, and still has put up good numbers and kept his cool. At humongous Petco a .285/5HR/51RBI, 27 2b in 389AB means this guy can hit, and is due for another breakout season. He is a good defender, a great clubhouse guy. Imagine, a good hitting veteran catcher recovered from injuries at Fenway. He will keep Tek healthy and supplement his bat. If Boras keeps Tek from coming back, I can see him and Kelly Shoppach putting up 30HR with great D. Alternatives are inexperienced, that Josh can train if necessary, like Salty, TG, Montero, Kottaras.

Posted by giraud` January 2, 09 08:14 PM

Posted by giraud` January 2, 09 08:15 PM

Bard may be ok with kottaras backing him up. If Tek doesn;t want to play for the Sox, so be it. Remember Tek, you may want to be a coach/manager someday...don't burn your bridges. If he does simply dump Bor-ass and finish your career here. The dump was the smartest thing A-rod ever did.

Posted by ctsoxguy January 2, 09 09:22 PM

I hope that Josh Bard is the new starting catcher!! I think it's time to turn the page on the Captain he is mired in a contract tussle between the sox and you know who!
Sorry Tek you are not worth 14mil a year!!! I like Josh and with the youngsters Kottaras and Brown,they should be fine!

Posted by Sportsbozo1 January 2, 09 10:42 PM

As a life long Red Sox fan and a Texas Tech alumn and Texas Tech fan, glad to see Josh Bard with the Red Sox. Welcome back Josh! Hope you are healthy this year and you have a great year with the Red Sox! I'm looking forward to seeing you play this year.

Posted by Danny in McKinney, TX January 3, 09 01:35 AM

How about Montero/Byrnes trade with Arizona. We could probably get them cheap as they want to dump Byrnes salary. I know Byrnes is a scrappy vet, got great speed and would be a nice addition to the outfield if he's recovered from whatever had him miss most of last year. Montero looks like a good, young catcher that can hit. This trade would only make sense if they came cheap, as far as low level prospects from the Sox, but would fill vital needs.

Posted by Ben Ben January 3, 09 08:48 AM

WHAT IS THIS TEAM DOING , VERY FRUSTRATING I still don't know what Ellsbury is at the plate, is Ortiz ok or is he on the decline , is Lowel going to be alright , do I have a short stop oh thats right all of a sudden Lowery is great atleast thats what I hear, is Drew going to be ok or out for two months play out for another month play, and holy cow no disrespect but Tim hit em out of the ball park Wakefield is coming back you gotta be kidding, people must like being down 7 runs after the 2nd, thats right I keep being told the knuckle ball can all of a sudden be devistating thats what Francona tells me all the time...I just don't get it

Posted by Mike January 3, 09 11:23 AM

check out Jed Lowrie

search: "IL All-Promoted Team"

lvironpigs.wordpress.com

Posted by red sox fan January 3, 09 05:37 PM