Padres' Bard, Estes elect for free agency
Sports Network | October 06, 2008
San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - San Diego Padres catcher Josh Bard and pitcher Shawn Estes both cleared waivers and elected for free agency, the team announced Monday.
Bard, 30, hit just .202 with 16 RBI in 57 games of an injury-plagued 2008 season that saw him miss significant time with a high ankle sprain and a strained triceps.
In 431 career games, the seven-year veteran has hit .265 with 28 homers and 168 RBI with the Indians, Red Sox and Padres.
Estes also missed a majority of the season with a fractured left thumb. The 13-year veteran went 2-3 in nine games -- eight starts -- with a 4.74 earned- run average last season.
The 35-year-old has made stints with San Francisco, Cincinnati, the New York Mets, the Chicago Cubs, Colorado, Arizona and San Diego, going 101-93 in 283 games -- 281 starts -- with a 4.71 ERA.
In other Padres news, pitcher Dick Hayhurst was claimed off waivers by Toronto, while catcher Luke Carlin and shortstop Sean Kazmar were out-righted to Triple-A Portland.
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