Dustin May is already getting a wide look on the free-agent market, and the list includes a Brewers rival that would sting a little extra.
On Wednesday night, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported that the right-hander is drawing interest from the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres and Houston Astros, at the very least.
“Free agent RHP Dustin May is drawing interest from a broad group of teams that includes the Cubs, White Sox, Padres and Astros, sources say,” Morosi wrote. “Of note, new Astros GM Randy Flores was in the Cardinals front office when they signed May last offseason. May, 29, is one of the youngest starters on the market this winter.”
May’s time with Milwaukee wasn’t pretty on paper. He posted a 5.65 ERA in 10 starts down the stretch, then followed that with a 5.73 ERA in five playoff appearances for the Brewers.
Even so, he still filled a need for Milwaukee as a depth arm and wound up being a positive addition overall. The numbers just weren’t there, which is why the market will be so interesting to watch.
What keeps May appealing is the age and the upside. He’s only 29, and in 2026 with the St.
Louis Cardinals he put up a 4.38 ERA in 21 starts. Across his big league career, he owns a 4.12 ERA in 102 appearances.
Injuries knocked him off track between the 2021 and 2024 seasons, but he’s stayed healthy over the last two years and still looks like a pitcher with more to give.
That’s the bet for any team chasing him now. When he first broke in with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he looked like a future star. The injuries changed that path, but his fastball still plays and he showed flashes with the Cardinals and Brewers in 2026.
Among the teams Morosi mentioned, the Cubs would be the toughest landing spot for Milwaukee to swallow. May still has enough upside to be a difference-maker, and seeing him end up with the Brewers’ bitter National League Central rival would be a rough outcome.
The Padres are another concern, since they should be strong in 2027 and could be in the mix with Milwaukee for the top spot in the National League. The White Sox and Astros, both in the American League, would be less of a problem for the Brewers right now.
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