Sox release Josh Bard

The Red Sox today announced that the team has released catcher Josh Bard. The soon-to-be 31-year-old backstop had signed a non-guaranteed one-year contract, with a team option for a second year, in December that would have paid him $1.7 million had he been on the 25-man roster on opening day. By releasing Bard today, the team will now only owe him one-sixth of that amount. Bard had been having a strong spring prior to being cut, compiling .429/.529/.786 totals with 2 doubles, 1 home run, 3 walks and only 2 strikeouts in 14 at bats.

This move likely signals that George Kottaras, who is out of minor league options, will break camp as Boston's backup backstop. The 25-year-old left-handed hitter is also having a respectable spring, having put up .286/.375/.500 numbers with 1 home run in 14 at bats so far. He has also done well in catching the knuckleball of Tim Wakefield, a certain pre-requisite to be the backup catcher for the Red Sox.

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