(St. Louis) Right-handed pitcher Dustin May signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old top scorer will pocket a salary of 12 million in 2026, but the deal also includes a mutual option of 20 million for 2027, with a release clause of US$500,000.
May went 7-11 with a 4.96 ERA in 23 starts this season with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox, who acquired him on July 31. He missed about three weeks of play in September due to nerve inflammation in his right elbow.
After appearing in two games during the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series championship, May injured his elbow in 1er May 2021 and he underwent Tommy John surgery 10 days later.
He returned to the mound in the majors on August 20, 2022, but made just six starts before being placed on injured reserve due to tightness in his lower back.
May was 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA in nine starts in 2023, but his season ended on May 17 due to a torn flexor pronator muscle that required surgery, on May 1.er July.
While recovering, he underwent surgery to repair a ruptured esophagus in July 2024. May returned to the mound in the Majors in 1er last April.
May boasts a 19-20 record and 3.86 ERA in 57 starts and 14 relief appearances. He received a salary of 2.135 million this year, the latter making him eligible for arbitration.
To free up a roster spot, the Cardinals designated Matt Koperniak for transfer.
