Dustin May: Dodgers Trade Rumors Not Surprising

Dustin May has been a consistent presence for the Los Angeles Dodgers during a season in which their starting rotation has again been impacted by multiple injuries, but he’s also potentially on the verge of being squeezed out.

Shohei Ohtani is making progress toward building up to a normal workload for a starter, and Blake Snell is expected to be activated off 60-day injured list this weekend. Even with plans to operate with a six-man rotation, the Dodgers are facing somewhat of a surplus with May and Emmet Sheehan.

Coupled with May being due to become a free agent after the 2025 season, it’s led to speculation the right-hander will be traded before the 3 p.m. PT deadline on Thursday.

While there’s some uncertainty over his future, be it role with the Dodgers or in the form of a potential team, May has hardly been affected, per Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:

“Shocker,” he deadpanned earlier this weekend. “It’s there every year. It’s not anything new.”

Amid a perception of May being available at the trade deadline, interested teams reportedly increased scouting efforts of late.

In his most recent outing, which also was May’s final time pitching before the trade deadline, he allowed four runs over five innings and was tabbed with a loss against the Boston Red Sox.

May navigated early traffic in the outing and appeared to settle into the game before running into more trouble in the fifth inning that saw the Red Sox take their lead. May at one point retired nine batters in a row, with the stretch including five strikeouts.

Overall this season, May is 6-7 with a 4.85 ERA, 4.69 FIP and 1.35 WHIP in 19 games (18 starts). He’s already set career highs in games, starts and innings pitched (104).

Dustin May trade rumors history

As the 27-year-old referenced, his name has been subject to Dodgers trade rumors several times before.

In 2018, May reportedly was coveted by the Baltimore Orioles in a Manny Machado trade, but the Dodgers refused. In early 2019, May’s name was linked to J.T. Realmuto trade rumors.

At the MLB trade deadline in 2019, the Pittsburgh Pirates were turned away in asking for May as part of a return for Felipe Vazquez. May wound up making his MLB debut during the 2019 season.

That offseason, however, the Dodgers were thought to be willing to include him in a trade for Francisco Lindor.

But come 2020, the Dodgers were reported as being intent on keeping May and Gavin Lux amid interest in Mike Clevinger, Mookie Betts and Lindor.

Now May is being speculated as a potential trade chip in the Dodgers’ search for an outfielder.