The Los Angeles Dodgers figure to be busy with the 2025 MLB trade deadline quickly approaching on July 31 as they have a few needs to fill.
Adding a high-leverage right-handed reliever is the focus, but they could also add an outfield bat or some depth to their bullpen with the hopes of Michael Kopech, Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol being healthy for the postseason.
In a reversal from previous years, Dodgers don’t need to address their rotation, and they seemingly have enough depth where they could trade a starter. But that seems to be unlikely as the Dodgers prefer to trade some of their prospects instead of MLB players, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
The team’s preference is to trade from its farm system as opposed to its major-league roster.
Dustin May has been the player on the Dodgers roster who has been most connected to trade talks. With the return of Blake Snell closing in, May is likely to be pushed out of the rotation, and he’s in his final year of team control before becoming eligible to reach free agency.
But the Dodgers could also just move May to the bullpen, which would partly address their need, and it would allow them to keep rotation depth in the event of more injuries. May has been inconsistent as a starter with more struggles than success, but there are some reasons for optimism he could shine out of the bullpen.
The right-hander holds a 3.65 ERA when facing the lineup for the first time, and he gets worse each time batters see him again. The second time through the order, May has a 5.03 ERA, and the third time through, it jumps up to a 7.15 ERA.
May’s strikeout rate also drops from 24.2% the first time through to 20.9% the second time, and 19.2% when facing a batter for the third time. In addition, his home runs per nine inning is just 0.97 when facing batters the first time before skyrocketing to 1.85 the second time through.
May is essentially a two-pitch pitcher, primarily relying on a sweeper and sinker, which makes it difficult to go deep into a game. He also utilizes a fastball and cutter, but not as often.
The 27-year-old has a 28.5% whiff rate on his sweeper and a 27.4% rate on his fastball. Utilizing that combo out of the bullpen while facing a limited number of batters should allow him to have much more success that he has as a starter.
May’s sinker grades out as his worst pitch, and batters are hitting .294 against it and slugging .601 with a 58.8 hard hit rate. Comparatively, his fastball has allowed just a .115 average and .213 slugging with a 35% hard hit rate.
May has likely found more success with his fastball as opposed to his sinker given its more limited usage at just 16%, but coming out of the bullpen and pitching in shorter bursts would allow him to utilize it more often and drop the sinker because a reliever can live with just two pitches.
Relievers can also get away with having less command than a starter, which would benefit May as well.
The Dodgers have a potential high-leverage type reliever in May, if they chose to follow that route. But there would still be some concerns as it’s a role he hasn’t filled often in his career, and given his previous health issues, asking May to pitch multiple days in one week could be an issue.
But the Dodgers will also need a multi-inning reliever in October, specifically one who could follow Shohei Ohtani. May would be perfect for that role, or he could take down some innings to save the bullpen if any of their other starters struggle.
Dodgers looking for outfielder for Dustin May?
If the Dodgers were to trade May, it would seemingly come as part of their search for outfield help. They don’t appear to have much interest in moving May in a deal for a reliever, nor would they do it for prospects.
One other possibility is a three-team trade involving May for a reliever and outfielder. That concept would be similar to the one they pulled off last year that saw Michael Kopech and Tommy Edman land with the Dodgers, while veteran starting pitcher Erick Fedde went to the St. Louis Cardinals from the Chicago White Sox.
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