NEW YORK -- Seeking to add to their bullpen depth, the Mets on Monday signed former Red Sox late-inning reliever Daniel Bard to a Minor League contract. Bard will report to the Mets' Minor League facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla., rather than to a specific affiliate.
From 2009-11, Bard was one of the American League's most successful relievers, posting a 2.88 ERA with 213 strikeouts in 197 innings. His fastball averaged more than 97 mph during that stretch.
The Red Sox converted Bard to a starting pitcher the following season with poor results. He went 5-6 with a 6.22 ERA in 2012, threw just a single inning of relief in '13, and has not appeared in the Majors since. Last year, Bard made 10 relief appearances for the Cardinals' Double-A Springfield affiliate, posting a 10.38 ERA with 19 walks in 8 2/3 innings.
Overall, Bard, 31, is 10-19 with a 3.67 ERA over five big league seasons.