MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox’s Next Opponent Could Shop Starter

The Boston Red Sox aren’t the only contenders examining the pitching market before next Thursday’s MLB trade deadline. They’ll begin a three-game series against a Los Angeles Dodgers squad that’s witnessed its pitching depth crumble.

The Dodgers loaded up this offseason, but injuries could force them to keep adding. Tanner Scott recently joined Michael Kopech, Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol on the injured list, likely compelling the defending World Series champions to acquire more relief pitching.

Interestingly, they could reportedly attempt to bolster that weakness by trading a starting pitcher. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal said the Dodgers might consider trading Dustin May.

After missing all of 2024 recovering from surgery to repair a torn esophagus, May has pitched a career-high 99 innings this season. That ranks second on the Dodgers behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

May has hardly delivered elite production, posting a 4.73 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. His average fastball velocity has dipped to a career-low 95.6 mph, and he’s generated the 12th-lowest swinging-strike percentage (8.2) of 107 pitchers with at least 80 innings this season.

Injuries have also derailed what had the makings of an elite Dodgers rotation. They’ve spent most of the season without Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki and Shohei Ohtani on the mound, but the unit could be back in full force for the playoffs.

Glasnow collected 12 strikeouts in his third start back from the IL on Wednesday. Ohtani is ramping up with abbreviated starts, and Snell has looked sharp during his ongoing rehab assignment.

May could lose his rotation spot if that trio stays healthy alongside Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw and Emmet Sheehan. Yet the Dodgers know better than most teams that there’s no such thing as too much pitching depth.

The Dodgers could instead use May to help their bullpen woes. He pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings following Ohtani as a bulk reliever on Monday.

May is also in a contract year, and a team selling bullpen help is unlikely to buy a rotation rental. The Dodgers may have to sacrifice some of their deep farm system instead, but Rosenthal said they’re “reluctant” to trade catcher Dalton Rushing or shortstop Alex Freeland.

May is scheduled to start Sunday’s game versus the Red Sox against former Dodgers teammate Walker Buehler.