Cardinals Secure Deal with Pitcher Dustin May
The St. Louis Cardinals are poised to sign pitcher Dustin May to a one-year contract, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The deal comes with a mutual option for the 2027 season, signaling the club’s intent to bolster its rotation.
Background on Dustin May
Dustin May, 28, recently divided his playing time between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox. His transition to Boston occurred during the trade deadline when he was exchanged for prospects James Tibbs and Zach Ehrhard.
Performance Highlights and Challenges
- Set career high with 132.1 innings pitched last season.
- Made 25 appearances but struggled with a 4.96 ERA.
- Injuries plagued his performance, limiting him from 2021 to 2023.
- Missed the entirety of the 2024 season following flexor tendon surgery.
- In 2025, he made 19 appearances, posting a 4.85 ERA over 104 innings.
Despite his setbacks, May previously exhibited promising potential, averaging a sub-3.00 ERA in 2020, 2022, and 2023 during shortened campaigns. The recent deal reflects the Cardinals’ hope that May can harness his previous productivity while maintaining improved health.
Cardinals’ Rotation Needs
With the departure of veteran pitcher Sonny Gray to Boston and Miles Mikolas entering free agency, the Cardinals are eager to strengthen their rotation. Additionally, swingman Steven Matz signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, creating further depth concerns.
May is expected to join existing roster members such as Andre Pallante and Michael McGreevy. Richard Fitts, acquired in the Gray trade, could also be involved in the pitching mix.
The Future of Dustin May
Throughout his career, May has showcased a unique pitching style, marked by a high-spin sweeper and a fastball that reaches the mid to upper 90s. However, he has struggled to consistently generate strikeouts. In 2021, he experienced a rare peak with a 37.6% strikeout rate across five games, but his performance dipped thereafter.
The Cardinals are banking on May’s ability to combine flashes of brilliance with sustained availability. If successful, May could become a pivotal component in St. Louis’s pitching strategy moving forward into the upcoming seasons.
