The Dodgers made a tough call during the 2025 season, parting ways with right-hander Dustin May - a former third-round pick who, not long ago, was seen as a key piece of their pitching future. After missing all of 2024 and showing flashes of his old self in an inconsistent return this year, the Dodgers decided to move on. In a deadline deal that came down to the wire, they shipped May to the Red Sox in exchange for a pair of outfield prospects: James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard.
Boston, looking to bolster its rotation for a stretch run, pounced. And while May didn’t finish the season in Dodger blue, he still played a role in their 2025 World Series run - enough of one, in fact, to earn a ring. That makes three championships for May during his time with L.A., a testament to both his talent and the organization’s sustained excellence.
“They were all my boys,” May said, reflecting on his time with the Dodgers. “It was definitely very fun to watch...
I played with them for four and a half months or however long it was. So I definitely helped and contributed for them to get there.”
Now, the next chapter begins.
On Wednesday, the St. Louis Cardinals officially announced May’s signing, locking him in on a one-year, $12.5 million deal with a mutual option for 2027 worth $20 million. It’s a fresh start for the flame-throwing righty, who’s looking to re-establish himself after a rocky 2025 campaign that included flashes of dominance but also raised questions about his long-term durability.
This is a pivotal moment in May’s career. The stuff is still there - the mid-to-upper 90s fastball, the wicked movement, the potential to be a top-of-the-rotation arm.
But another injury could make teams think twice about investing in that upside. For May, this is about proving he can stay healthy and be a consistent contributor over a full season.
As for the Cardinals, they’re in a bit of a transition phase. Rumors continue to swirl around key veterans like Nolan Arenado, Brendan Donovan, and Willson Contreras, all of whom could be on the move if the team leans fully into a rebuild. That puts May in an interesting spot - he could be a valuable piece for a team trying to stay competitive, or a trade chip if things head in a different direction.
Either way, the mission is clear: get back to being the pitcher who once looked like a cornerstone in Los Angeles. May has the tools. Now it’s about putting it all together - again.