Dustin May is listed as the probable starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday in Boston, but that could be his final start in Dodger blue.
May was reportedly listed as a potential trade chip by well-connected insider Ken Rosenthal, with Los Angeles prepared to upgrade at the MLB Trade Deadline next Thursday.
May’s 17 starts rank second on the Dodgers behind only Yoshinobu Yamamoto (20), and he picked up his sixth win of the season Monday by throwing 4 2/3 shutout innings in relief of Shohei Ohtani.
But with LA’s rotation nearing full health, May could be the odd man out, especially since he is 6-6 with a 4.73 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 99 innings this season. That could lead him to land elsewhere
Why Would The Dodgers Trade Dustin May?
On the surface, trading May might seem strange. But according to Rosenthal, it would make sense, especially with LA targeting relief for its struggling bullpen, which just lost Tanner Scott to the injured list this week.
“Left-hander Tanner Scottâs stint on the injured list with elbow inflammation makes the Dodgersâ need for bullpen help even more acute,” Rosenthal wrote. “But how are they going to get it?
“One way, according to sources briefed on the clubâs thinking, might be to trade right-hander Dustin May, a potential free agent who could lose his spot in the rotation once left-hander Blake Snell comes off the injured list.”
Even though you can never have too much pitching, Rosenthal laid out the case well. Snell is scheduled to make a rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City in Reno on Saturday, and with Shohei Ohtani ramping up and Tyler Glasnow throwing seven innings in a no-decision Wednesday, the Dodgers staff expects to be as close to full strength soon.
So the Dodgers could lead with May, who has an 18-15 record with a 3.65 ERA and 1.15 WHIP for his career, despite his struggles in extended time in the rotation this year. But LA fans should temper their expectations for a return if May ends up getting dealt.
“May would have only so much value as a rental with a 4.73 ERA,” Rosenthal wrote. “The Dodgersâ difficulties keeping pitchers healthy also might make them reluctant to move a starter who is second on the team in innings pitched.”
Given that perception, May could end up being more valuable to the Dodgers than any other team.
“May could serve, as he did successfully on Monday, as a bulk pitcher behind Shohei Ohtani,” Rosenthal wrote. “Manager Dave Roberts called that pairing a âone-off,â but the idea of May providing length out of the bullpen is hardly an outrageous idea.”
Who Could The Dodgers Trade If They Don’t Want To Deal Dustin May?
The Dodgers are going to trade for a pitcher before next week’s deadline, and if May doesn’t help them land a marquee pitcher, they have more than enough of a prospect base to use — even if they would prefer not to trade Dalton Rushing or Alex Freeland.
“If they prefer to keep May, can instead deal from their deep farm system, which The Athletic’s Keith Law ranked before the season as the third best in the game,” Rosenthal wrote. “The system is stacked with other highly regarded position players. Among them: Shortstops Kellon Lindsey and Emil Morales, outfielders Eduardo Quintero, Ching-Hsien Ko and Mike Sirota, third baseman Chase Harlan.”
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