Doubront was hit hard in Sunday's start against the Royals, allowing seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits across five innings while striking out two. The lefty settled down after allowing six runs in the first inning, but he simply wasn't effective on the day and was replaced after just five innings, as the team had taken the lead. This clunker came on the heels of a quality start in his previous outing, so Doubront could remain in the starting rotation, although his next start is not currently scheduled.

Doubront was outstanding Tuesday against the White Sox, giving up one run on six hits and one walk while striking out six over 6.2 innings. He threw 63 of his 94 pitches for strikes, which is a far cry from what Doubront was known to do as a starter in his time with the Red Sox and the Cubs (1.47 career WHIP). This outing was enough for Doubront to be guaranteed at least one more turn in the rotation Sunday against the Royals. It was Doubront's first big league start since last Sept. 20 when he was with the Cubs. Fantasy owners have likely been burned by Doubront before, but at 27 years old it is not inconceivable that he could turn his career around. Given the run support he will get most nights, the 6-foot-2 lefty might be worth a speculative add in deeper leagues where he can be strategically deployed, specifically in road starts.

Manager John Gibbons announced Doubront will start Tuesday against the White Sox unless he's needed Monday night, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports. Doubront was called up over the weekend and making one appearance out of the bullpen, is set to start his first game of the season in the majors Tuesday night. In nine starts for Triple-A Buffalo, he held a 2.44 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP while holding a 43:18 K:BB ratio. With a strong performance, he could remain in the rotation as the fifth starter role for the team has been in-flux all season.

Doubront will be called up Friday, and he may start against the White Sox on Tuesday, Mike Wilner of Sportsnet reports. Matt Boyd was demoted back to Triple-A Buffalo after surrendering seven runs without recording an out in Thursday's loss to the Red Sox. Doubront, who is seemingly next in line to get a shot in the rotation, would line up for two starts next week, with the second coming Sunday in Kansas City. He's having a solid season at the Triple-A level, but his presence is unlikely to dissuade the Blue Jays from pursuing a starter on the trade market.

Doubront is returning from the 7-day DL to start Wednesday at Triple-A Durham, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports. Given the Jays' issues in the back of the rotation, Doubront has a shot at making a few starts for Toronto at some point this season if he can show signs of putting the pieces together in Buffalo. Currently, he's without a 40-man roster spot, which adds another small hurdle in his bid to return to the big leagues.

Doubront signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays on Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. Doubront tossed nearly 80 innings at the big league level in 2014, spending time with both the Cubs and Red Sox. His ERA dropped over two full runs to 3.98 after the move to Chicago, but the Cubs granted him his unconditional release after allowing nine earned runs over seven innings this spring. The Jays will now step in and get the long reliever/spot starter on a low-risk deal, further adding to their organizational pitching depth.

Doubront was granted his unconditional release from the Cubs on Saturday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports. Doubront's minimal chances of earning a rotation spot with the Cubs were squashed early, as he gave up nine runs on 17 hits -- including two homers -- in four spring appearances. It seems he asked to be released with the hope of landing a major league opportunity elsewhere. Even with his career 4.78 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, that's not completely out of the question.

Doubront is out of the running for a rotation spot, as MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports that Travis Wood and Edwin Jackson are the last two contenders remaining for the fifth spot in the Cubs' rotation. Doubront probably didn't have a realistic chance, but he was at least nominally in the running as the spring began. He's given up 15 hits and eight runs in just six innings this spring and is in danger of not even making the roster at this point.

Doubront agreed to a one-year, $1.925 million deal with the Cubs on Thursday, Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald reports. The deal allows both sides to avoid arbitration, and the 27-year-old will return to Chicago, where he landed after a late-July trade with the Red Sox. In four starts with the Cubs, Doubront went 2-1 with a 3.98 ERA across 20.1 innings. Despite the small sample size, it was a noted improvement over his performance with Boston, where he went 2-4 with a 6.07 ERA in 17 appearances (10 starts, 59.1 innings).

Doubront gave up two runs on five hits over five innings in a losing effort Saturday against the Pirates. The Cubs removed Doubront after 81 pitches, giving Dan Straily a couple of innings in middle relief in the process. The current setup of the Cubs' rotation will put Doubront on the mound again Friday in Pittsburgh in a rematch against the Pirates.