Felix Doubront isn’t sure if the bullpen is for him.
Doubront, who has been skipped in the starting rotation with Clay Buchholz back in the mix, figured to be a candidate to join the Red Sox’ bullpen. The left-hander is skeptical about such a move, though.
“If they said, ‘Go to the bullpen and warm up right now,’ I can’t do that,” Doubront told WEEI.com before Wednesday’s game at Tropicana Field. “I can’t do that right now. I have to wait for a couple of batters or one inning. But being quick, like those guys right now, I can’t.”
Doubront, who had some shoulder issues in spring training, started 26 of his 27 appearances this season, and all 29 of his appearances last season were starts. The Red Sox have six starters now that Buchholz is healthy, though, so they needed to make a decision about who would be bounced from the rotation. Doubront was the guy, but because the southpaw takes a long time to get ready, the bullpen might not be conducive with his style.
“I don’t think so,” Doubront reportedly said when asked if he believed he would be the best option to help out in the bullpen. “If they want me to, I’m going to be there. But that’s not what I want.”
Whether or not Doubront ends up pitching out of the ‘pen remains to be seen. For now, he thinks that the Red Sox might be better off going with relievers who have been out there all season.
“We’ve got nasty guys who can do it,” Doubront told WEEI.com. “I can be another one, but I think these guys deserve to be in that position, to be that reliever they need in those situations. I can do it, but I think the priority is them. They’ve been in the bullpen a long time, not me.”
Doubront is 10-6 with a 4.15 ERA this season. He failed to make it out of the fourth inning in back-to-back starts before being skipped in the rotation.
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