Doubront close to joining Jays' Triple-A rotation
After working in extended spring training, southpaw can add pitching depth
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Left-hander Felix Doubront is nearing a return and could be added to the starting rotation at Triple-A Buffalo in the relatively near future.
Doubront signed a Minor League deal earlier this month and has been rehabbing a minor shoulder injury at extended spring training in Dunedin. He currently doesn't have a job waiting for him in the big leagues, but Doubront could become the first line of defense if anyone in the rotation suffers an injury.
The expectation is that Doubront will make at least a couple of more starts in Florida and then move to Triple-A where he will serve as depth for an organization without much of that in the rotation.
"Just saw Felix Doubront the other day, he was 90-92 [mph] and he threw two innings," Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "He'll progress and hopefully get into the Bisons' rotation soon. I'm going to think maybe two or three more outings to get built up and stretched out. Could be sooner than that, but we'll get him up there soon."
Doubront has spent parts of five seasons in the Major Leagues with the Red Sox and Cubs. He has a career record of 28-23 with a 4.78 ERA while striking out 386 over 438 1/3 innings.