The Los Angeles Dodgers are moving right-handed pitcher Dustin May to the bullpen, manager Dave Roberts told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s game.
May’s name has circulated in trade rumors as he’s on an expiring contract and unlikely to fill a rotation spot when the entire team is healthy.
More news: Dodgers Rumors — MLB Insider Provides Major Dustin May Trade Update as Deadline Nears
However, if he isn’t traded, it appears May will be shifting to the bullpen.
Also, Dodgers are shifting Dustin May to the bullpen for the time being, Roberts said. May will be available for multi-inning relief outings starting Friday
Emmet Sheehan is piggybacking today with Shohei Ohtani (who is slated for four innings)
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) July 30, 2025
With all the rumors swirling surrounding the Dodgers, and specifically May lately, Roberts doesn’t seem to be phased.
May has been struggling recently, allowing 17 earned runs in his last 25.1 innings of work.
The first time that May came out of the bullpen was earlier this month, taking the bulk of the innings after Shohei Ohtani took down the first three frames. According to Roberts, Emmet Sheehan will assume this role for Ohtani on Wednesday.
Although May’s ERA has grown recently, his four-seam fastball still shows the advertised dominance. Out of the 268 heaters he has thrown this year, batters have a .111 average against that offering, with a swing-and-miss rate of 26.2 percent.
In terms of the rumors that have been swirling around May, Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain recently spoke to MLB insider Bob Nightengale regarding the likelihood of him being flipped.
“I think it’s very possible,” Nightengale said of a would-be trade on Dodgers Dougout Live. “I think certainly he’s out there. They’re telling teams he’s available. And just so many teams need starters.”
The issue regarding this is that a contending team would most likely be the ones who need a starting pitcher like May. Nightengale also brought up the prospect of the an opposing team not wanting to actively help out the Dodgers.
“If they move Dustin May they’re moving him to a contender because he’s a rental, so it’ll be hard to see a contender say, ‘Okay, I’ll help the Dodgers out by giving him a reliever’ — unless it’s like a middle reliever, maybe a set up guy. So probably more likely it’d make more sense to get somebody’s top 15-20 prospect.”
Photo Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
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