Dustin May’s run with the Milwaukee Brewers appears to be over after one championship push.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, May has declined the mutual option on his contract for 2027 and will head into free agency. Milwaukee brought him in from the St. Louis Cardinals during the season knowing there was a real chance he might not stick beyond this year, and that’s exactly how it played out.
The timing is notable: the decision comes only a day after the Brewers won the World Series. May wasn’t spectacular in the postseason, posting a 5.73 ERA in 2026, but he still filled a useful role on the pitching staff. He logged some important innings for Milwaukee in both the playoffs and the World Series.
For the full season, May finished with a 4.70 ERA over 31 total starts between St. Louis and Milwaukee.
His path has been busy over the last couple of years, too. He started his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019, then moved from the Dodgers to the Boston Red Sox in 2025 before spending 2026 with the Cardinals and Brewers.
What comes next is less certain. His uneven results could make a long-term deal tough to land this winter, with a two- or three-year contract that includes opt-outs sounding like one possible route. A one-year deal is also on the table, and if he pitches well in 2027 on that kind of contract, he could set himself up for a bigger payday the following offseason.
Whether Milwaukee tries to bring him back is still unresolved. But even with the option decline, May did contribute to the Brewers’ championship season.
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