While it appears that there isn’t much going on with the Boston Red Sox on the trade front as of right now, Alex Speier of WEEI.com is reporting that the Red Sox will make Felix Doubront a reliever.
According to multiple major league sources, the Red Sox will shift starter Felix Doubront to the bullpen in hopes of bolstering their struggling relief corps. Earlier in July, the team had anticipated that the left-hander would remain stretched out in the Pawtucket starting rotation since he represents valuable depth for the major league starting staff. However, with the team’s ongoing bullpen struggles, the Sox have committed to shifting him to relief for the remainder of the year, a process that will begin immediately. According to the sources, Doubront’s shift to relief will occur regardless of whether the Sox make any moves to acquire bullpen help.
Doubront would become the second starter the Red Sox have converted to a reliever. Michael Bowden was shifted to the bullpen earlier in the season and has made a few apperances with the Red Sox out there as well this season.
Doubront, who is currently with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox, has made three starts for the big club and has a 1-2 record with a 4.11 ERA. He’s made eight starts for the PawSox and is 4-3 with a 3.34 ERA. He also made eight starts for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs where he was 4-0 with a 2.51 ERA.
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