Rangers sign Daniel Bard to minor-league deal

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The Texas Rangers have themselves a reclamation project:

It's a minor-league deal, tweets the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Jeff Wilson, who adds that Bard had thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) surgery on his shoulder in early January. 

Here's the Mayo Clinic on TOS, because we at theScore are the furthest from doctors:

"Thoracic outlet syndrome is a group of disorders that occur when the blood vessels or nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib (thoracic outlet) become compressed. This can cause pain in your shoulders and neck and numbness in your fingers. ...

"Treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome usually involves physical therapy and pain relief measures. Most people improve with these approaches. In some cases, however, your doctor may recommend surgery."

Bard's 28 now, and his days as a stud reliever in Boston seem far, far away. He had a 2.88 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 197 innings from 2009 through 2011, with an impressive 214 strikeouts, and 76 walks. He was thought to be a big part of the Red Sox moving forward, a few years ago. 

Then it all fell apart in 2012, when Boston tried to make Bard a starter. He lost the plate. He walked batter after batter after batter, after his control deserted him. He walked 43 in 59 1/3 innings in 2012 with the Red Sox, and walked 29 in 32 innings in Triple-A that same year. Bard threw an inning for the Red Sox last year - he walked two. The power's always been there, but control problems have stalled what was once a very promising career. He has a career 4.23 walk rate in 257 1/3 big-league innings. 

It gets worse, somehow: Bard's walked 107, hit 18 batters, and thrown 21 wild pitches in his last 107 2/3 innings, which includes his work in the minors, tweets The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham. We're not sure how that's even possible, but we're going to give Mr. Abraham the benefit of the doubt. 

Bard was claimed off waivers by the Cubs in September, but non-tendered by the club in December. Now he'll attempt a comeback - "a good man's road back," as Peter Gammons put it - with the Rangers. 

His deal will include an invitation to spring training, writes ESPN's Richard Durrett. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said:

"He was one of the elite relievers in the game for probably a three-year run. Matt Harrison was pitching instructional league games 2½ months after his surgery. We'll see once he gets in and we get our arms wrapped around him. This is the time of year you take chances on guys. This is taking a chance on a guy with a pedigree at being one of the best at what he does."

Good luck, Mr. Bard. Use the force.