Cubs claim righthander Daniel Bard off waivers from Boston

The Chicago Cubs today claimed right-handed pitcher Daniel Bard off waivers from the Boston Red Sox. To make room for Bard on the 40-man roster, outfielder Cole Gillespie was designated for assignment. 

Bard, 28, is 10-19 with five saves and a 3.67 ERA (105 ER/257.1 IP) in 211 big league appearances (10 starts) with the Red Sox covering all or part of the last five seasons (2009-13). He was originally selected by the Red Sox in the first round (28th overall) of the 2006 Draft out of the University of North Carolina.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Bard broke into the majors with the Red Sox in 2009 and posted a 2.88 ERA (63 ER/197.0 IP) in 192 appearances while pitching exclusively in relief through the 2011 campaign. He limited opposing batters to a .190 batting average (132-for-693) and a .582 OPS, allowing only 45 extra base hits to 795 batters faced. Bard struck out 213 batters in 197.0 innings during his first three seasons in the majors.

Prior to the 2012 season, Bard was converted to a starting pitcher and has spent much of the last two seasons in the minor leagues. He went 5-6 with a 6.22 ERA (41 ER/59.1 IP) in 17 appearances (10 starts) in the big leagues last season and has made only two appearances in the big leagues this season, allowing one run in 1.0 inning pitched.

Overall in his big league career, Bard has a 3.24 ERA (73 ER/203.0 IP) in 201 relief appearances and a 5.30 ERA (32 ER/54.1 IP) in 10 starts.

Gillespie batted .203 (12-for-59) with two doubles and four RBI in 28 games with San Francisco and the Cubs this season.