The St. Louis Cardinals have been turning heads this season, transforming from a team in rebuild mode to a legitimate Wild Card contender.
A big part of this unexpected rise has been the breakout performances of Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt. But let's not overlook the pitching staff, which has exceeded expectations, with Dustin May standing out as a key figure.
May, sporting a 4.30 ERA, is on a one-year deal, making him a potential trade chip if the Cardinals' fortunes take a downturn. The buzz around the league, highlighted by MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan, suggests that May could be on the move if St. Louis starts to slip in the standings.
Currently, the Cardinals are sitting at 42-38, just half a game out of the NL Wild Card race. But baseball is unpredictable, and if they hit a rough patch before the Trade Deadline, May might be one of the first to pack his bags. Pitchers are always in demand, and a right-hander like May, with his solid track record, would be a hot commodity.
At 28, May is in the prime of his career. He's under contract for this season, with a 2027 mutual option that's unlikely to be exercised. This makes him a likely candidate for a trade, especially if the Cardinals find themselves on the fringes of contention.
May's season has had its ups and downs. He delivered a masterful complete game shutout against the San Diego Padres in mid-June, only to struggle in his next outing, giving up six runs in just two innings against the Kansas City Royals. It's a bit of a feast or famine situation with May, but that's precisely what makes him intriguing for teams looking to bolster their rotation for a playoff push.
As the Trade Deadline approaches, the Cardinals will have to weigh their options carefully. If they falter, leveraging May's trade value could be a strategic move to bolster their future prospects. After all, in the high-stakes world of Major League Baseball, timing and opportunity are everything.
In Other News...
Cubs Move May Have Just Strengthened Cardinals Trade Leverage
The Cubs latest move has added another layer to the trade market the Cardinals are watching closely. Chicago sent a prospect in Cole Mathis to the Mets for David Peterson, a rental starter whose season has been uneven, and that kind of deal can matter around the league because it helps define what teams are willing to pay for pitching help in July.
From St. Louis standpoint, Dustin May offers a different kind of selling point. He has been more effective than Peterson, and his prospect pedigree gives him a little extra shine if contenders start chasing rotation depth before the deadline. With the market already showing clubs will part with real value for starting pitching, the Cardinals have reason to believe Mays path to a deal could become more interesting by the day. [Read more 🡒]
Two Cardinals Arms Are Forcing A Tough Rotation Rethink
June has given the Cardinals a pair of rotation developments worth watching closely. Andre Pallante and Kyle Leahy have both steadied themselves on the mound during a season that has demanded it, giving St. Louis a more reliable look in the middle of a difficult year for the staff.
Pallante has been especially sharp, running off a strong month and consistently giving the club chances to win. Leahy has also carved out some momentum with consecutive quality starts, and his recent work has lowered his season ERA to 4.24. With the rotation still in flux, both arms have done enough to force a real conversation about what comes next. [Read more 🡒]