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Texas Rangers rumors: Daniel Bard has agreed to a deal with the Texas Rangers, according to Peter Gammons on Twitter.
No word yet on whether this is a major league deal or a minor league deal. I'd guess a minor league deal, but we shall see. Anthony Andro says that a deal hasn't been reached, but is close.
Bard apparently underwent surgery for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome earlier this month, and Gammons previously reported that TOS, rather than the mental problems that had previously been blamed, may have been the cause of Bard's struggles the last couple of years.
Bard is a name familiar to Rangers fans, as several years back, he and Michael Bowden were kicked around as possible trade targets when the Rangers were talking about trading Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden to the BoSox.
Bard, a hard-throwing righty, was a first round pick of Boston in the 2006 draft. He looked like Boston's future closer after a 2010 age-25 campaign where he put up a 1.93 ERA in 74.2 innings with 76 Ks. The Red Sox tried converting him to starting in 2012, however, a conversion that failed, and after a disastrous 2012 season, he pitched only 1 major league inning in 2013, and 15 minor league innings.
If Bard can regain his pre-2012 form, he'd definitely be an asset to just about any bullpen. Having just undergone TOS, he won't be ready to pitch until the middle of the year, but a healthy Bard could be a key late season addition for Texas.
