Cardinals Finalize Deal with Pitcher Dustin May

The St. Louis Cardinals have finalized a one-year contract with free-agent right-handed pitcher Dustin May, as reported by ESPN. May, who is ranked as the thirty-sixth best free agent available this offseason, has struggled with injuries, including multiple elbow surgeries, limiting him to just twenty total starts from 2021 to 2024.

In 2025, he made twenty-three starts with a combined ERA of four point ninety-six and a WHIP of one point forty-two over one hundred thirty-two and one-third innings pitched, striking out one hundred twenty-three batters.

The Cardinals are looking to bolster their pitching rotation with this signing, which could prove to be a value move given May's age of twenty-eight and the potential for improvement as he moves further away from his injuries.

If May performs well in 2026, the Cardinals may consider signing him to a long-term deal or trading him for prospects at the deadline. This move is part of the Cardinals' strategy to enhance their competitiveness for the upcoming season, signaling their commitment to improving their roster as the offseason progresses.