BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox designated once-prominent reliever Daniel Bard for assignment on Sunday due to the need for a spot on their 40-man roster.

The 26-year-old Bard, a key part of the back end of Boston’s bullpen from 2009-11, has battled control problems the last two seasons.

The Red Sox recalled recently acquired Quintin Berry as part of their September call-ups. Berry was picked up in a minor-league trade with Kansas City last week.

Bard has bounced around the minors this season, struggling with his control for most of his outings.

In his most recent outing for Single-A Lowell on Saturday night, Bard walked four and had a wild pitch, but a pickoff at third prevent him from giving up a run.

“We felt like performance was going to lead to confidence,” Red Sox Manager John Farrell said. “But I thought in spring training there were some outings that were not far off to where he was previous, whether it was a year or two prior, and I felt like as he was building a little momentum, felt like there was still one step yet left to make with him, in terms of just the power and the consistency to it. It looked like he was on his way. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.”

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Bard’s desire to start was fulfilled last season by GM Ben Cherington and then-manager Bobby Valentine, but it turned out to be a tough run for the right-hander. He was 5-6 with a 6.22 ERA in 17 games, including 10 starts, and spent a large amount of the second half of the season at Triple-A Pawtucket.

When he came up in 2009, Bard had a high-90s fastball and a sharp curve, making him one of the game’s more effective set-up men. But his control became an issue last season.

“To have that kind of power and that kind of ease in which he threw, and the breaking ball he had in addition to the 98 to 101, or whatever it was (fastball), yeah, he was as good as there was in the game,” Farrell said.

If he clears waivers, Bard could go back to the minors because he has an option left.

In other moves, Boston called up catcher Ryan Lavarnway and right-handed pitcher Rubby De La Rosa from Triple-A. Utility infielder John McDonald, acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies for a minor-league pitcher on Saturday, was added to the 40-man roster, and infielder Brandon Snyder was activated from the 15-day disabled list.

DODGERS: Los Angeles acquired infielder Michael Young from Philadelphia late Saturday, picking up a playoff veteran for a potential postseason run.

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The NL West leaders sent minor-league pitcher Rob Rasmussen to the Phillies.

Young batted .276 with eight home runs and 42 RBI in 126 games with the Phillies this season, including seven hits in his last 10 at-bats before the trade. He has made 101 starts at third base and 17 at first.

Young, 36, is a .300 career hitter with 185 homers and 1,026 RBI. He will join the Dodgers on Monday in Denver for the start of six-game trip.

As part of the deal, the Phillies sent cash to the Dodgers.

TIGERS: Miguel Cabrera was out of the Detroit’s lineup for a second straight game to rest his strained abdomen.

RANGERS: Veteran designated hitter Lance Berkman was activated from the disabled list, along with three pitchers.

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Berkman had been out since July 7 because of left hip inflammation and soreness in his surgically repaired right knee.

The pitchers activated from the DL were right-handers Neftali Feliz and Nick Tepesch, and left-hander Michael Kirkman.

BRAVES: Atlanta purchased the contract of veteran right-hander Freddy Garcia from Triple-A Gwinnett.

Garcia, 36, is expected to pitch out of the bullpen. He may also be used as a spot starter.

The Braves acquired Garcia from Baltimore on Aug. 23 for cash considerations.


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