2004 found Bazardo with the single-A Jupiter Hammerheads, where he went 5–9 with a 3.27 ERA; again, he suffered from a lack of run support and frequent errors which allowed unearned runs to score. At the end of the year the Marlins added Bazardo to their 40-man roster. A further sign of the Marlins confidence came in 2005, when Bazardo was invited to spring training, although he did not make the cut and was optioned to the double-A Carolina Mudcats. On May 26, 2005, Bazardo was called up by the Marlins to replace struggling relief pitcher Logan Kensing. Marlins manager Jack McKeon acknowledged that it was something of a gamble: "Who's to say he's not another Willis? Let's find out. Let's see if he can handle the situation. Some can't. Some can." Bazardo was rocked in his one relief appearance; giving up five runs (four of them earned) in 1 innings, and the next day he was optioned to Carolina.