Felix Doubront

Boston Red Sox pitcher Felix Doubront was moved to the bullpen but could have more value to another team (AP photo).

(Ben Margot)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- When Jake Peavy was traded to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday, Felix Doubront figured he wouldn't be chosen to take Peavy's starting spot for Sunday's game.

Doubront had pitched out of the bullpen Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and hasn't started since June 20. But he was still holding out hope the Boston Red Sox would move him back to the starting rotation at some point this season.

Unfortunately for Doubront, manager John Farrell doesn't see it happening, saying Sunday, "there's a clear role for him in the bullpen and sometimes performance guides where you're slotted."

If the Red Sox won't give him a chance to start, Doubront would rather be traded to a team that would.

"If something happens, it’s going to happen because it’s going to be the best for me," he said. "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."

While Doubront won't be eligible for arbitration for the first time until 2015 and won't be a free agent until 2018, there could be another team willing to give him another shot in the starting rotation if the Red Sox were open to trading him.

"The thing is, if the (Red Sox) say I have to prove myself, I already did man," he said. "It’s (messed) up. So if these guys say I have to pitch to prove whatever, no, they already know what I have. I showed them what I have, as a reliever and as 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."

Doubront has a career 4.47 ERA as a starter and a 7.20 ERA in 35 innings as a reliever.

"First of all, I’m not a reliever," he said. "They know that. They just, you know, it’s hard but I don’t know what they’re doing. I know they’re not doing the right thing for me. That’s what I know right now at this moment. I’m an employee just following the order but they know I’m not happy. I don’t know what they’re going to do in the future but I’m don’t want to be a reliever the whole year, that’s what I know."

Doubront emphasized that while he isn't happy being in the bullpen, he would like to get more opportunities. He went 14 days from July 7 to July 21 without pitching at all.

"I just want to pitch," he said. "Give me the ball and I’ll pitch. I cant show to you what I got, because you already know. But let me show it to other teams and that’s what I want. And they know that."

The 26-year-old left-hander has shown glimpses of being an above-average starting pitcher in the past. Over a period of 15 starts last season, he never allowed more than three earned runs in a game. And his career strikeout rate of 8.2 per nine innings is encouraging.

But he's struggled with shoulder stamina in each of the past two seasons, throwing considerably worse in August and September. He believes his shoulder is in much better shape this season after spending a month on the 15-day disabled list.

"I feel a lot better even from last two years," he said. "I feel more and more strong in my shoulder last year and this year. All the treatment and stuff I’ve been doing, getting my shoulder feeling really good."

The Red Sox still believe in Doubront's talent, but have been discouraged by his inconsistency.

"This is still a left-handed pitcher who's got good stuff," Farrell said. "Consistency has been something that's always been a focal point from start to start, or in any given inning. That still remains. But when you start to grade out the physical abilities, you would think that he's certainly capable of more."

Farrell is understanding of Doubront's request, but simply doesn't see Doubront getting a chance in the starting rotation, especially with prospects Allen Webster, Anthony Ranaudo, Brandon Workman, Matt Barnes and Henry Owens working their way through the minor league system.

"I fully respect guys wanting an expanded role," Farrell said. "Along with that comes the circumstances that they find themselves in. Who else is around them? Who else is competing for the same spots? You can't turn away from that."

Follow MassLive.com Red Sox beat writer @JMastrodonato on Twitter. He can be reached by email at jmastrod@masslive.com.