Felix Doubront to Cubs: Latest Trade Details, Comments and Reaction

Following struggles throughout the 2014 season, the Boston Red Sox have reportedly traded Felix Doubront to the Chicago Cubs ahead of the MLB trade deadline.   

The Cubs confirmed the deal on their Twitter account:

Jeff Passan of Yahoo originally reported the trade Wednesday:

Jim Bowden of ESPN passes along more information:

The former starter currently touts a 6.07 ERA, 43 strikeouts and 1.60 WHIP through 17 appearances this season. After opening the season as a starter, Doubront was moved to the bullpen and has started just 10 games in 2014.

As a reliever during July, Doubront has been tattooed with a 14.14 ERA through seven innings pitched. That includes a two-walk, six-run outing on Monday in 0.2 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ricky Doyle of NESN provided his thoughts on the pitcher after his final outing with Boston:

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Doubront’s career with the Red Sox has been a rollercoaster ride, but he has shown flashes of being a valuable pitcher. This season, however, has been somewhat nauseating, and the situation is unlikely to solve itself. 

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Doyle also notes that the final performance was an "all-time low" for the former starter.

Speaking of his career as a starting pitcher, Doubront apparently wants to get back on the mound to open games. The 26-year-old Venezuelan explained what he wanted if traded to a new team, via Jason Mastrodonato of MassLive.com:

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If something happens, it’s going to happen because it’s going to be the best for me. I just want to be a starter and stay there. If I stay (with the Red Sox), they have to know I have to be a starter. If I go, the other team is going to give me this chance to be a starter.

... For me, they don’t see the numbers, they don’t care what I’ve done in the past. It’s hard to be happy like that with these guys.

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Though the player potentially coming over to the Red Sox hasn't been mentioned, it's clear they are working toward next year. After falling well off pace in the AL East, this might be the first of several moves from the team—including ace starter Jon Lester, who was scratched from his Wednesday start amid swirling trade rumors, per Matt Snyder of CBSSports.com.

While Doubront has struggled mightily this season, he has proved over the last few seasons that he deserves another shot as a starter. From 2012 to 2013, Doubront collected a 22-16 record, 4.59 ERA and 306 strikeouts over 323.1 innings pitched.

Those numbers aren't staggering, but they show he can get the job done. On a young team like Chicago that is slowly working toward the future, Doubront might have a shot to contribute.

Follow @RCorySmith on Twitter.