Daniel Bard has been named the Red Sox' No. 5 starter.

Daniel Bard yielded three runs in six innings and struck out seven Friday in a win over the Twins.

Not great, but certainly not bad. Bard allowed four hits, with only Justin Morneau's double going for extra bases, and walked three. The Red Sox will probably announce their decision on their two rotation openings within the next couple of days. It's probably going to come down to Bard and Alfredo Aceves for one spot. Felix Doubront isn't necessarily the better option, but the pen would look quite a bit better with either Bard or Aceves in it.

Daniel Bard yielded five runs in six innings Sunday in a no-decision versus the Blue Jays.

Bard probably didn't help his case for that rotation spot today. He walked three, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch in the contest. The Jays scored off him in four of his six innings of work.

According to CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine and GM Ben Cherington are split on whether Daniel Bard should begin the season in the starting rotation or bullpen.

Cherrington is reportedly in favor of Bard in the rotation, with Jose Iglesias and Ryan Lavarnway beginning the season in the minors, whereas Valentine is considering moving Bard to the bullpen, with both Iglesias and Lavarnway on the major league roster. For what it's worth, Bard has struggled in his three Grapefruit league starts this year, going 1-2 with a 7.10 ERA and 6/10 K/BB ratio.

According to Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com, one Red Sox staff member has told others outside the organization that Daniel Bard will be headed back to the bullpen and Alfredo Aceves and Felix Doubront will have spots in the starting rotation.

Daniel Bard yielded three runs across five innings Tuesday night against the Blue Jays.

Bard allowed three hits while walking three and striking out a pair. While he was pretty shaky early on, he retired the final eight hitters he faced and 12 out of the last 14. Still, he has an underwhelming 10/6 K/BB ratio over 12 2/3 innings this spring and Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine admitted after the game that the walks are a concern. We still think he'll get a shot in Boston's rotation, but he hasn't been promised a spot yet.

Two scouts told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that they believe moving Daniel Bard to the rotation is a mistake.

"Bard should be in the pen,'' the source said. "He's a thrower, not a pitcher. And he's had success in the pen. I'd have made him the closer once (Jonathan) Papelbon left.'' Another scout added that the Red Sox are committed to Bard in the rotation but only for ''maybe half a year.'' Both scouts see Felix Doubront winning the fifth spot in the rotation, with Alfredo Aceves being used in the bullpen.

Daniel Bard was torched for seven runs in 2 2/3 innings by the Cardinals on Thursday.

Bard had pitched five scoreless innings this spring, so one bad outing isn't worth getting all up in arms about. Still, with four more walks today, he's up to seven in 7 2/3 innings. That's a bit of a concern, especially with the way his command deteriorated at the end of last year.

Daniel Bard pitched two hitless innings Tuesday in Boston's 5-4 defeat of Baltimore.

He walked one and struck out two. The fourth spot in Boston's rotation is likely Bard's to lose, and while he likely would have been more valuable for fantasy purposes as a closer, he has plenty of upside as a starter as well.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said Daniel Bard is dealing with some back stiffness, but he doesn't expect it to affect the pitcher's throwing program.

Good news, as Bard needs to stay healthy and pitch well in order to lock down a spot in the team's rotation. The former reliever has posted a sparkling 2.88 ERA and 213 strikeouts through the first 197 innings of his major league career, but he hasn't made a start since 2007 back in A-ball.

Daniel Bard believes his transition to the starting rotation is a work in progress, but doesn't expect any major differences in his appraoch this season.

Bard was a starter in college at North Carolina and for one season in the minors. "I haven't pitched from a windup since 2007,'' Bard said. "But I'm getting used to it. It's not all that much movement to get to where I was in the stretch anyway. I'm pretty comfortable with it already, I actually think my control is a little better.''

The Red Sox and RHP Daniel Bard avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.6125 million contract.

The two sides settled at the midpoint of the $1.825 million that Bard requested and the $1.4 million that he was offered when arbitration figures were exchanged on Tuesday. The Super Two right-hander has posted a sparkling 2.88 ERA and 213 strikeouts through the first 197 innings of his major league career. He'll get a shot at cracking the Red Sox' starting rotation in camp this spring.

Daniel Bard requested $1.825 million and was offered $1.4 million by the Red Sox when arbitration figures were exchanged Tuesday.

Bard is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter as a Super Two player after posting a 2.88 ERA and 213 strikeouts over 197 innings during his first three seasons in the majors. Look for the two sides to eventually find some middle ground on a contract.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said Daniel Bard will be used as a starter in spring training but still might ultimately be the team's closer in 2012.

Bard will be built up from two to four to six innings, and, at that point, the Red Sox will make a decision on his role for the season. "I told him to prepare to be a starter and if that, in fact, does not happen, to be ready and willing to be our closer," Valentine said. Bard was a starter in college and in his first year as a pro but moved to the bullpen after posting a horrific 7.08 ERA and 47/78 K/BB ratio in A-ball. It would enhance his chances of sticking in the rotation if the Sox are able to trade for Andrew Bailey or sign Ryan Madson.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said Daniel Bard's role for next season has not yet been decided.

Indications are that Bard has shown a preference to start, and the Red Sox are considering the possibility but have not committed to it. Bard, of course, is the current top in-house option for the ninth inning with Jonathan Papelbon having departed, though the Sox are involved in talks for some free agent closers.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox have discussed converting Daniel Bard into a starter.

Bard was a starter in college and in his first year as a pro but moved to the bullpen after posting a horrific 7.08 ERA and 47/78 K/BB ratio in A-ball. He said in spring training this year that he'd be interested in giving starting a try at some point, but the reality is that it's unlikely a move will be made, especially with Jonathan Papelbon no longer around.

Daniel Bard took his ninth loss of the season on Tuesday, surrendering two runs on two hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Protecting a one-run lead, Bard was perfect in the seventh, but two of the first three batters reached base in the eighth. He was replaced by Jonathan Papelbon, who served up a single and double to seal Boston's fate. Bard has four losses in his last six appearances, during which his ERA has jumped 111 points to 3.21.

The Red Sox plan to stick with a struggling Daniel Bard as their primary setup man.

"Last year at this time, everybody wanted Bard to be the closer. We stuck with (Jonathan Papelbon), and we were OK," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said on Thursday. "I think there's certain players where we'd better figure it out as opposed to running from guys." Bard has taken a loss in three straight appearances, and posted a 17.36 ERA and 2.36 WHIP in 4 2/3 September innings. His eight losses on the season are the most for a Red Sox reliever since Derek Lowe dropped 10 games in 2001.

Daniel Bard gave up three more runs and took another loss Wednesday against the Blue Jays.

That's losses in three straight appearances for Bard. He's given up runs in four of his five appearances this month. Bad defense played a role today, but some of it was Bard's own -- he threw wide of first on what should have been a sac bunt -- and he was the one who got himself into a jam by walking the first two batters he faced. Manager Terry Francona needs to stop blindly giving him the eighth inning until he works through this.

Daniel Bard was roasted for five runs on Wednesday in one inning of work, falling to 2-6 on the season.

Bard gave up only one hit, but also walked three batters and hit another. After he departed with the bases loaded and two outs, Matt Albers served up a bases-clearing double to effectively hand Bard the loss. It was just one of those nights for Boston's normally stellar set-up man, who watched his ERA pop 66 points to 2.76.