Colorado Rockies take reliever off market with Daniel Bard extension

The Colorado Rockies were reluctant to put Daniel Bard on the trade block as they were hoping to sign him to an extension. Those hopes have become a reality.

According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Rockies and Bard are finalizing an extension. Jon Heyman from the New York Post reports that this will be a two year deal. Feinsand further reported that this deal is for approximately $19 million.

Colorado Rockies still keeping the band together

A two year extension for a 37 year old reliever, and for that amount, is not exactly something that makes sense for a rebuilding team. That is especially the case when it comes to Bard, whose ability to hold on to the closer spot was not certain heading into this season. But logic does not always apply when it comes to the Rockies.

In their defense, Bard is having the best season of his career. He has posted a 1.97 ERA and a 1.035 WHiP over his 37.2 innings this season, notching 21 saves while striking out 43 batters with 19 walks. And Bard only has 631.1 professional innings on his arm due to his previous battles with the yips and the years he took away from the game.

This extension also appears to be a dramatic overpay for Bard’s services. With his shaky track record and age, teams were not likely to come even close to that type of a deal. Bard may have been lucky to get a second year and would not have approached $19 million on the open market.

This also does not change the fact that the Rockies need to do a lot more than to keep the band together and have a healthy Kris Bryant in order to contend. In fact, they could have traded Bard, received a useful piece for the future in return, and then made that offer in free agency. There is no question they would have been the highest bidder. Again, logic need not apply in Colorado.

The Colorado Rockies have signed Daniel Bard to a two year extension. It is a dramatic overpay for a team where common sense is not so common.