With just hours left before the trade deadline, the Dodgers’ 27-year-old right-handed pitcher’s fate is still undecided. He would either end up in a new uniform or settle into a new plan hinted at by manager Dave Roberts. That plan? For now, let’s just say it’s enough to affect the roster logistics and shape how the Dodgers approach the final hours before the deadline.

A source familiar with the club’s strategies reported that if the Dodgers end up trading Dustin May, it’s “likely” going to be for an outfielder.

Apparently, his name has been swirling around trade rumors, as he’s on an expiring contract. Plus, the odds are low for him to fill a rotation spot when the entire team is healthy.

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Now, coming to Roberts’ plan, he confirmed on Wednesday that May will be moved to the bullpen for the time being. Considering that Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, and Shohei Ohtani are all healthy, May will be sent to the bullpen.

You can watch out for the right-hander as he will be pitching in longer relief appearances from Friday onwards. That day, the Dodgers will go against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Across 19 games this season, May has held a 4.85 ERA and a 6-7 record. May has notably struggled recently. He allowed 17 earned runs across his last 25.1 innings. When he first came out of the bullpen was at the beginning of the month. He took the bulk of the innings after the two-way star Shohei Ohtani tackled the first three frames.

This season, batters have recorded a .111 batting average against May’s 268 heaters. About the potential of his trade, Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain said, “I think it’s very possible.”

Now, one thing is certain: The entire pitching staff will look nothing like it used to after the deadline. However, it’s still not clear where exactly May will fit. That too, if he’s a Dodger at all.

Dodgers’ right-hander Dustin May unsurprised with his name in the trade talks

Many clubs, including the New York Yankees, have reportedly shared their interest in one of the Dodgers’ most promising prospects—Dustin May. The right-hander had elbow surgery last year, but he’s now healthy. After an inconsistent 2024 season, he’s now finding his footing this season.

Right now, Blake Snell is expected to make a much-anticipated return by the weekend. That means, to make room for him, someone won’t be in the starting mix anymore. Initially, the word was that it could either be Dustin May or Emmet Sheehan. And now temporarily, May has already made his way to the bullpen.

After all, his production has seemingly dropped below the league average. Still, he has drawn significant attention from the scouts recently. For his part, May is not surprised. Speaking on the trade buzz, he said, “It’s there every year. It’s not anything new.”

It’s unlikely the Dodgers will receive a blockbuster return for just May. They might have to trade another star to get the desired return. But still, a few hours into the deadline, we’ll know better if the Dodgers decide to offload him to make room or keep him in the bullpen. What do you think—will the Dodgers keep him?