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Newly acquired Doubront to DL with calf strain

CHICAGO -- Felix Doubront, the left-handed pitcher who the Cubs acquired from the Red Sox, will not join the team, but will instead go on the disabled list with a strained left calf, general manager Jed Hoyer said Thursday.

The Cubs acquired Doubront, 26, for a player to be named. The left-hander has appeared in 17 games for the Red Sox this season (10 starts) and totaled 59 1/3 innings. He was 2-4 with a 6.07 ERA, and will be reunited in Chicago with Theo Epstein, who was Boston's general manager when Doubront was signed in 2005, and is now the Cubs' president of baseball operations.

"Sometimes guys need a change of scenery," Hoyer said. "He's been pitching in the American League East. He's had moments when he's pitched real well. Obviously, he's been struggling, that's no secret to us.

"Sometimes you get a guy, a change of scenery, different coaches, different ballpark, different league, you hope that clicks together," Hoyer said. "He's got good stuff and has potential, and hopefully we can bring out the best in him."

There's no timetable for when Doubront will join the Cubs.

"Once he gets healthy and is able to rehab and we can stretch him back out, we'll see how the rest of the year works," Hoyer said.

For his part, Doubront said goodbye to the Red Sox on Twitter: "Thankful for my times with @RedSox org. the opportunity given to me, the World Series. Now a new journey for me & my family. Hola @Cubs!"

He is the second starting pitcher the Cubs have acquired this season. On July 4, they added right-hander Dan Straily to the mix in the deal with the Athletics. Straily was pitching at Triple-A Iowa.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat.
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