Felix Doubront, Daniel Bard Fill Out Red Sox Rotation

The offseason saga in search of pitchers to fill out the Red Sox rotation has come to an end.

Mike Silverman of the Boston Herald and Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe report that left-hander Felix Doubront and right-hander Daniel Bard have been tabbed as Boston's No. 4 and 5 starters, respectively.

Doubront will be the 4th #RedSox starter. Still waiting on No. 5

— Michael Silverman (@MikeSilvermanBB) April 1, 2012

Bard is the No. 5 starter. #RedSox

— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) April 1, 2012

The 24-year-old Doubront has made just 25 appearances (only three starts) for the Red Sox the last two seasons, posting a 4.84 ERA and 7.4 K/9 in 35 1/3 innings. Doubront made 24 starts at Triple-A Pawtucket in that same timeframe, putting up a 3.86 ERA and 8.0 K/9 in 107 1/3 IP.

Bard, who boasts an extremely effective three-pitch arsenal, served as Boston's set-up man the last three years, amassing a 2.88 ERA, 1.056 WHIP and 9.7 K/9 in 197 innings.

Though Boston's top three starter slots--Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz--have been locked in since October, the back end of the rotation has been a mystery for much of the offseason.

With Daisuke Matsuzaka, John Lackey and Rich Hill out indefinitely while recovering from Tommy John surgeries, the Red Sox looked to bullpen arms and cheap, outside help to solidify the rotation.

Though picked up as possible rotation additions, offseason acquisitions Vicente Padilla and Andrew Miller are now off the table as starters. Padilla and Miller may join the other starter candidate, Alfredo Aceves, in the Red Sox bullpen.