A's land lefty Doubront in deal with Blue Jays

OAKLAND -- The A's were minor players on Friday's non-waiver Trade Deadline scene, acquiring lefty Felix Doubront from the Blue Jays and dealing right-hander Ryan Cook to Boston after doing much of their heavy lifting in the last week.

Having already traded their biggest assets -- Scott Kazmir, Tyler Clippard and Ben Zobrist -- in exchange for five prospects well ahead of the deadline, the A's simply used the day to bolster their pitching depth down the stretch in Doubront, who was obtained for cash. Cook was dealt for a player to be named later or cash.

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Doubront, who was designated for assignment by Toronto on Wednesday, will join the A's on Saturday and will likely be activated Sunday. His role has yet to be determined but he could be an option to start in what's currently an all right-handed rotation.

"We'll see," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "He's been a starter, so we'll see how that goes in the coming days. Whether it's trade or whether it's injury, our starting pitching depth has been cut back."

Doubront, 27, has split this season between Toronto and Triple-A Buffalo, going 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in five games (four starts) with the Blue Jays and 1-3 with a 2.44 ERA in nine Minor League starts.

He's 29-24 with a 4.78 ERA in 107 games, 77 of them starts, with the Red Sox, Cubs and Blue Jays.

"We've seen him a couple of times over the last couple years," Melvin said. "He's a big guy with an assortment of pitches, and at times has pretty good velocity. For lefties that do have some velocity and have had some success, it's all about putting it together and being consistent with it, and we're hoping that's the case with him."

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The A's hoped Cook could rediscover the consistency with his command that helped him achieve All-Star status in 2012, but he's struggled much of the year, most of it spent at Triple-A Nashville.

After posting a 2.77 ERA and holding opponents to a .204 average in 208 appearances over his first four seasons with the A's, Cook compiled a 4.05 ERA in 30 relief appearances with the Sounds. He appeared in just four games this season with Oakland from April 26 to May 2 and had two losses and a 10.38 ERA.

Melvin acknowledged, "He's had some trouble this year," but noted, "He's been paramount with the success we've had here the last three years.

"I communicated with him today, wished him the best," Melvin said. "Sometimes when you get sent down you can get a little dogged down with your confidence and your motivation, and sometimes just a change of scenery and a new organization can really invigorate you.

"I think that will be the case with him. I know he's excited about the opportunity. He thanked me and the organization for the time and experience that he had here, but I think a change of scenery will do him good."