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Daniel Bard 2023 Outlook: Job Security and Solid Skills Make a Solid Investment
2 years agoDaniel Bard posted a fantastic campaign for a terrible team in 2022, pitching to a 1.79 ERA in 60⅓ IP with 34 saves despite calling Coors Field home. Obviously, you shouldn't bet on Bard repeating that sterling ERA in Colorado's thin air, but his 3.30 xFIP and 2.49 xERA suggest that he should be able to provide some ratio help. Bard also features a superlative slider (17.5 SwStr%, 57.8 Zone%, 33.7% chase rate) that makes it easy to believe in a repeat of his 28.2 K%, though the only other pitches in his arsenal are a mediocre sinker (7 SwStr%, 54.8 Zone%) and show-me change. He also walked too many with a 10.2 BB%, something that a .221 BABIP and 6.8% HR/FB prevented from showing up in his ERA. Still, the old-fashioned Rockies are likely to present Bard with all of the save chances the team can muster. That creates stability in a role that's increasingly unstable for fantasy purposes, making Bard a solid investment at his current ADP of 119.90.
