The White Sox are still working the starting pitching market from every angle, and one of the names now tied to them is a familiar one: Dustin May.
Chicago has already been linked to a handful of arms as Chris Getz continues to signal that the club will “exhaust the market” for help on the mound. Bruce Levine of The Score connected the Sox to Japanese right-hander Kaima Taira earlier this week, while Jesse Rogers of ESPN mentioned possible links to Michael King and Nick Pivetta. Now Jon Morosi reported that May is drawing interest from a broad group that includes the Cubs, White Sox, Padres and Astros.
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.
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…
- Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 12, 2026
May would not sit in the same tier as the top-end starters Chicago seems to be chasing. Getz has said the White Sox are looking for pitchers who can fit near the top or middle of the rotation, and May looks more like a depth add with some upside than a headliner. Still, there’s a case for the fit.
A former Dodgers prospect, May spent six seasons appearing in games for Los Angeles, though he never got a real chance to lock down a full-time starting role because of the number of arms in that system. His career high was 56 innings, and after missing the entire 2024 season because of injury, the Dodgers finally used him as a starter. He finished with a 4.85 ERA in 104 innings before being dealt to the Red Sox at the trade deadline, where he made five starts to close out the year.
Last offseason, May signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals and turned in a 4.38 ERA across 21 starts. One of the high points came on June 15th, when he threw a complete game shutout against the Padres.
St. Louis then moved him to the division-rival Brewers at the deadline, and his final numbers there were rougher: a 5.65 ERA in ten starts during the regular season and a 5.73 ERA in five playoff appearances.
Even with those uneven results, May did make a noticeable leap in 2026. The surface stats weren’t especially pretty, but the underlying gains were real.
His average fastball velocity climbed from 94.8 MPH in 2025 to 96.8 this season, and he also improved his strikeout rate, walk rate, xBA and xERA. He still allowed too much hard contact, and his fastball didn’t fare well against left-handed hitters, but at 29 and coming off a career-high workload, there’s at least a path to more growth in 2027.
For the White Sox, that makes him a plausible backend option. The club was reportedly interested in him as a reliever last offseason, so it would not be surprising to see that interest carry over now that he’s back in free agency.
If Chicago lands him, he probably wouldn’t be the centerpiece of the pitching haul. More likely, he’d be a veteran arm with some upside and recent postseason experience, someone who could take the ball every fifth day while the Sox pursue a higher-tier starter to slot immediately in front of or behind Sean Burke.
With the days ticking down before the expected lockout, the starting pitching market feels like it could move quickly. For now, May is another name to watch as the White Sox keep casting that wide net.
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White Sox May Be Eyeing Another Pitching Move Fans Should Watch
The White Sox have already shown they are willing to keep an eye on the Japanese market, and it makes sense given how much attention that path has gotten around the league. After the clubs interest in Munetaka Murakami, Chicago also sent scouts to take a look at right-handed pitcher Kaima Taira, another name drawing notice in Japans Pacific League.
For a team still trying to build out its pitching depth, the possibility of adding help from overseas is the part worth watching. Taira is one target, but he may not be the only one on the White Sox radar, with Shota Imanaga also mentioned as a free-agent possibility if Chicago decides to keep pressing in that direction. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Rotation Search Just Took An Intriguing Veteran Turn
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White Sox Linked To A Rotation Gamble Fans Will Debate
The White Sox are being mentioned in the market for another arm, with MLB Networks Jon Morosi reporting that free-agent right-hander Dustin May has drawn interest from Chicago along with the Astros, Cubs and Padres. It is the kind of move that fits a team still sorting out its rotation picture, especially with several clubs around the league looking for innings and hoping a change of scenery can unlock something more.
Mays path to free agency has already been a winding one, beginning with a one-year deal with the Cardinals before he was dealt to the Brewers during the season. His time in Milwaukee was uneven, and the appeal for interested teams will come down to whether they believe there is more to tap into than what showed up on the stat sheet, a debate that figures to be part of any White Sox discussion if they decide to push further. [Read more 🡒]