The St. Louis Cardinals have signed starting pitcher Dustin May to a one-year contract, worth $12.5 million. The contract includes a mutual option for 2027, worth $20 million or a $500,000 buyout. May, 28, was 7-11 with a 4.96 ERA, 25 games, 23 starts, 132.1 innings, 123 strikeouts, 56 walks, and a whip of 1.42 combined between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Reds Sox. The wins, games, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for May. 

May helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 2020. 

In 2019, May had a career high (4) holds. 

Overall, May has played 6 seasons in the MLB. May is 19-20 with a 3.86 ERA, 71 games, 57 starts, 5 holds, 324 innings, 297 strikeouts, 113 walks, and a whip of 1.20.

To make room for May on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals have designated outfielder Matt Koperniak for assignment.

In May the Cardinals get a pitcher who has upside in him if they can get him healthy. May had Tommy John surgery in 2023. In 2024, while trying to work his way back, May had surgery for an esophageal tear. That caused May to lose 40 pounds, and his velocity was down. That’s two big reasons why May didn’t do well in 2025, and because he missed so much time. Those two injuries also aren’t easy for any pitcher to comeback from right away.

If May does well then, it’s a win for the Cardinals and May. May then could be traded at the trade deadline for prospects or even re-signed if he likes it in St. Louis. 

The Cardinals current rotation could be Matthew Liberatore, Dustin May, Michael McGreevy, Richard Fitts, and Kyle Leahy. Do you try to find another starting pitcher to upgrade one of those spots? Leahy will compete for a starting rotation spot in spring training.