Over at CBS Sports’ MLB Facts and Rumors earlier today, I noted that the Red Sox seemed likely to call up Felix Doubront to start on Friday.
On one hand, it’s great news that the Red Sox have developed yet another young lefty (22 years of age) who can step into the rotation. Even if Doubront can’t crack the rotation over the next two years (and it will be mighty difficult for him to break past Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka and John Lackey), he’ll be a fantastic trade chip and is young enough that he could step in with a bright career ahead of him once Matsuzaka becomes a free agent after 2012.
On the flip side, I’m a little frustrated that the Red Sox acted so quickly to disable Matsuzaka for what clearly appears to be “normal” forearm tightness. That said, I can’t blame the team for acting so quickly and decisively based on Matsuzaka’s past with injuries — both in terms of how long it takes him to recover, but also in that Matsuzaka has been less than forthcoming about injuries. With Josh Beckett two weeks out, Doubront may be in line to get two starts, but the team may be able to jigger getting Matsuzaka back next week.