BOSTON — Felix Doubront’s season has been a struggle.
Doubront, who is unhappy with his current role in the Red Sox’s bullpen, imploded in Monday’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. The left-hander has since met with manager John Farrell.
Farrell would not reveal any details of his discussion with Doubront — beyond acknowledging that a meeting occurred — while speaking to reporters Tuesday. The conversation is worth noting, however, as the disgruntled southpaw looked disinterested while surrendering six earned runs over two thirds of an inning in Boston’s 14-1 loss.
Doubront, who began the season in the Red Sox’s starting rotation, has been open about his displeasure with his current relief role. The 26-year-old wants to be a starter, even telling MassLive.com over the weekend at Tropicana Field that he’d be open to a trade if it meant returning to a starting role.
It’s unclear whether the Red Sox will look to trade Doubront before Thursday’s Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline. Plenty of rumors are surrounding the Sox, though, and Farrell thus is making a concerted effort to ensure everyone’s focus remains on the task at hand.
“It is important that we all continue to focus as a team. This is us in uniform,” Farrell said before Tuesday’s game. “The things that we established a year ago and the things that we continue to build, that can’t be jeopardized and that can’t be sacrificed with a so-called distraction taking away from the way we play. That’s unacceptable in my mind.”
Asked whether the Red Sox’s recent stretch — six losses in seven games — has caused the club’s focus to stray, Farrell expressed confidence in his team’s ability to push through any hiccups that might occur on or off the field.
“To say that with a broad brush, no, not at all,” Farrell said of his team losing focus. “Are there some things that we address internally? Yes, there have been.”
Doubront’s discontent apparently is one such issue addressed internally.
