Boston acquires troubled pitcher Dustin May from the Dodgers in a trade deal
Dustin May Joins Boston Red Sox at Trade Deadline
The Boston Red Sox have made a significant move at the trade deadline, acquiring right-handed pitcher Dustin May from the Los Angeles Dodgers. May, 28, has struggled this season with a 4.85 ERA in 18 starts and one relief appearance for the Dodgers, but he has shown promise in the past with an ERA+ of 113 across six MLB seasons.
The trade comes as the Dodgers are in first place in the National League West, while the Red Sox are currently in the second wild card position in the American League. The Red Sox are also trying to remain competitive with the first-place Blue Jays in the AL East.
The Dodgers have a deep rotation when healthy, and the forthcoming return from injury of lefty Blake Snell may have made Dustin May expendable for the team. May's struggles this season may have contributed to his trade to the Red Sox.
May is owed the balance of a $2.14 million salary for the 2025 season and is eligible for free agency this coming offseason. The Red Sox are seeking pitching depth, particularly in the rotation, and May's experience as both a starter and a reliever could prove valuable.
The Red Sox have also acquired outfielders James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard in the trade deal. Tibbs, a former No. 13 overall pick, has spent this season split between High-A and Double-A, and has a slash line of .232/.359/.404 with 13 home runs in 86 games. Ehrhard's stats were not provided.
May's debut with the Red Sox was delayed, with manager Alex Cora announcing that May's first start for Boston would be on Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals, delayed from an originally scheduled Sunday start. There is no available data yet on his actual pitching performance or career statistics while with the Red Sox.
James Tibbs III, a 22-year-old outfielder/first baseman, is also part of the trade deal between the Red Sox and Dodgers. He has spent this season split between High-A and Double-A, and has a slash line of .232/.359/.404 with 13 home runs in 86 games.
References:
[1] ESPN. (2025, July 31). Dustin May traded from Dodgers to Red Sox. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35306106/dustin-may-traded-dodgers-red-sox
[2] MLB.com. (2025, July 31). Dodgers trade Dustin May to Red Sox. Retrieved from https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-trade-dustin-may-to-red-sox
[3] Baseball-Reference.com. (n.d.). Dustin May Career Statistics and Player Box. Retrieved from https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mayda01.shtml
[4] NBC Sports Boston. (2025, July 31). Red Sox acquire Dustin May from Dodgers. Retrieved from https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/red-sox-acquire-dustin-may-dodgers
[5] Boston.com. (2025, August 1). Dustin May's Red Sox debut delayed. Retrieved from https://www.boston.com/sports/red-sox/2025/08/01/dustin-mays-red-sox-debut-delayed
- The Boston Red Sox have added a new pitcher to their roster, acquiring Dustin May from the Los Angeles Dodgers in an MLB trade.
- Dustin May, with an ERA+ of 113 across six MLB seasons, will bring some valuable experience to the Red Sox, as they seek pitching depth in their rotation.
- May's trade to the Red Sox comes during an exciting season of baseball sports, with the Red Sox currently in the second wild card position in the American League.
- As part of the trade deal, the Red Sox have also acquired outfielders James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard, with Tibbs showing promise in the minor leagues.
