photo: Dustin May (Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports)
Free agent right-handed starting pitcher agrees to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2027. Outfielder Matt Koperniak has been designated for assignment.
St. Louis Cardinals release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced today (Wednesday, December 17) that they have signed free-agent right-handed pitcher Dustin May to a one-year contract for 2026 that also includes a mutual option for 2027. Financial terms of the deal were not announced.
“It’s exciting to add someone with Dustin’s talent and upside to our rotation,” said Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operation Chaim Bloom. “He’s already experienced pitching in and winning the World Series, as well as persevering through difficult injuries to return to health on a big league mound. We are happy that he will write the next chapter of his career here in St. Louis.”
May, 28, posted career highs in wins (7), games pitched (25), games started (23), innings pitched (132.1) and strikeouts (123) in 2025, as he split time between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox.
The 6-6, 180-pound May owns a career mark of 19-20 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 71 games pitched, including 57 starts. He finished the 2025 campaign with a 7-11 mark and 4.96 ERA, making 18 starts for the Dodgers before being traded to Boston on July 31. He made five starts in six appearances for the Red Sox following the trade.
Nicknamed “Big Red”, May was a 3rd round draft selection by the Dodgers in 2016 out of Northwest High School in Justin, Texas. He debuted with Los Angeles on August 2, 2019, and in 2020 finished 5th in National League Rookie of the Year voting after going 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA in 12 games pitched for the World Series Champion Dodgers. He was tabbed as the Dodgers Opening Day starter in 2020, becoming the youngest pitcher to do so for Los Angeles since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.
May compiled a 12-9 mark with a 3.10 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 46 games pitched (34 starts) between 2019 and May of 2023 before he was felled by ailments that forced him to miss the remainer of 2023 and the entire 2024 season.
His career postseason history includes nine appearances with Los Angeles between 2019-2020. May was credited with the win in relief in Game 1 of the Dodgers 2020 Division Series win over San Diego. He appeared twice in relief during the 2020 World Series vs. Tampa Bay.
In a corresponding move, the team announced that outfielder Matt Koperniak has been designated for assignment to make room on the team’s 40-player Major League roster.
Brian Walton’s take
The agreement was disclosed in the media over the weekend, but it was contingent on May passing a physical. Hence the delay of several days before it was formalized.
May is expected to step into the 2026 Cardinals rotation that is missing Miles Mikolas (free agent) and Sonny Gray (traded) from the 2025 starting five.
Media reports have Gray’s 2026 salary at $12 million plus either a $500,000 buyout or a $20 million mutual option for 2027.
First signed in 2020, Koperniak was added to the 40-man roster in November 2024. After an International League All-Star 2024 season, the outfielder’s performance declined at the same level in 2025. He did not receive a call-up to St. Louis.
In the next week, one of three things will happen with Koperniak, who lost his 40-man spot. He will be claimed by another organization that wants him on their 40-man, or he will be released or he will be assigned to Memphis (without his prior 40-man roster spot). The latter seems most likely.
Koperniak is The Cardinal Nation’s 47th-ranked prospect for 2026.
Following these two transactions, the Cardinals 40-man roster remains full.
Update
On Thursday morning, Chaim Bloom hosted a media session with May via Zoom. Following are my summaries of selected comments.
Bloom praised May’s experience having started on Opening Day and pitching in the World Series.
May said St. Louis offered him the best chance to take the ball every fifth day. He will enjoy helping the young pitching staff and sharing his experiences with the Dodgers.
Regarding his 2025 season-ending nerve problem, May said he had never had it before and after it calmed down, he could have pitched in the AL Division Series had the Red Sox advanced. He says he is back to normal health-wise.
May said he felt lucky to be able to pitch in 2025 with his goal to put weight back on and build strength. When he left the hospital following his esophageal tear, he did not know if he could ever pitch again. May said his weight is up to 220 from 198-202 last season. His goal for spring is 225-plus.
Both parties said they hope this will turn into a longer term commitment.
Bloom confirmed the Cardinals are still on the lookout for more starting pitching depth, specifically young talent. He is unsure if it will be via trade or free agency.
For roster and player information
The team rosters here at The Cardinal Nation are kept up to date daily. To access them, click on “ROSTERS/PLAYERS/MOVES” located on the red menu bar on the left of the page beneath The Cardinal Nation site logo.
To see the Cardinals’ entire system by level and position on one page along with every player transaction for every club all year long, check out the always current Roster Matrix at The Cardinal Nation. It is kept updated during the offseason and is accessible from the same menu as team rosters.
Now 20% off – 2025 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its eighth year. It includes 256 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of all-new player scouting reports. Order your PDF or spiral-bound printed book copy today, with the latter on closeout for 20% off!
All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!
Order The Cardinal Nation’s 2025 St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Guide
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
Not yet a member?
If you enjoyed this article, please consider joining The Cardinal Nation to receive the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system, including access to every article in our 2026 Top Cardinals Prospects series.
Holiday Gift Memberships to The Cardinal Nation at 10 Percent Off!
Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian and The Cardinal Nation on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.
© 2025 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.