With the trade deadline approaching, the St. Louis Cardinals look more like sellers than buyers, and Dustin May is one of the names that could move.
May signed a one-year, $12.5 million deal with the Cardinals last offseason, and there are a couple of clubs that could make sense if St. Louis decides to deal him. One of them is a familiar division foe: the Milwaukee Brewers.
A trade inside the division is never the easiest path, but Milwaukee has a clear need after Brandon Woodruff landed back on the injured list. The Cardinals are already 10 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central, so the idea of helping a rival may not carry as much weight as the chance to add value for the future.
A deal could bring St. Louis a solid prospect or two, and possibly a piece that helps sooner rather than later.
Chaim Bloom has already shown a willingness to be aggressive, so if moving May to Milwaukee gives the Cardinals the best return, that’s the kind of move he could make.
Another possible fit is the Los Angeles Dodgers, who could circle back to a pitcher they know well. The expectation is that the Dodgers will land Tarik Skubal, but if the Detroit Tigers take him off the market, Los Angeles may need to pivot.
That’s where May comes in. Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell have both had injury issues, and a pitcher who can soak up innings would be valuable for the defending World Series champions. May started his career with the Dodgers in 2019 and showed plenty of promise before injuries slowed him down.
He bounced back last season and has been a serviceable arm for St. Louis this year, which makes a reunion worth watching if the Dodgers miss out on Skubal.
If Skubal stays in Detroit, May’s market could rise quickly, since starting pitching is always at a premium. The question now is whether Los Angeles reaches out before the deadline.
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