The St. Louis Cardinals have started off the 2026 season strong, going 7-5 in their first 12 games of the year and sitting just one game back of first place in the National League Central. All of their stars were traded in the offseason, which led to prediction not exactly being kind to them.
However, they have played well thus far. Still, there are some issues to iron out with this team. They signed Dustin May to a one-year, $12.5 million contract last offseason, hoping he could bounce back from several injury-plagued seasons. But in his first two starts with his new team, May is 0-2 with a 15.95 ERA.
It is still very early in the season, so there is time for May to turn things around and potentially become a viable trade chip for St. Louis at the deadline. Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report listed one decision every team in Major League Baseball will come to regret from the offseason, and for St. Louis, it was giving May $12.5 million for 2026.
“May has never pitched more than the 132.1 innings he logged a year ago, so history tells us he’s going to spend a significant chunk of time on the IL at some point,” Kelly wrote.
“Perhaps even more problematic is that May just might not be good anymore. Since missing the entire 2024 season recovering from surgeries on his right flexor tendon and esophagus, May has a 5.54 ERA across 27 games, 25 of which have been starts. That includes his first two starts as a Cardinal, where he’s given up 13 earned runs over just 7.1 innings.”
St. Louis Cardinals Might Regret Signing Dustin May
May certainly hasn’t looked good in his first two starts with the Cardinals. He was at least able to stay healthy for most of 2025 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox, but that still remains a concern.
And if he is struggling this badly later in the season, he may lose all of his trade value, forcing the Cardinals to either hold onto him or potentially even designate him for assignment and release him. The Cardinals traded Sonny Gray, so they don’t have a true ace to lead the rotation this year, which makes May’s struggles even more problematic.
May’s next start comes on Friday against the Red Sox at Busch Stadium, but if he struggles again, the Cardinals may have to figure out something else to do with the right-hander instead of keeping him in their starting rotation for the rest of the season.
What’s Next if May Struggles Again?
The first step if May struggles again would likely be to move him to the bullpen and have him serve as more of a long relief option. That could include some spot starts or potentially even piggybacking off of other starters.
If that takes place and it goes well, then he could earn himself a path back to the rotation. But the Cardinals aren’t quite there yet. He’ll make his next start and try to get back on track against the Red Sox.
He is only two starts into his Cardinals’ tenure, so while there is cause for concern, there is no reason to panic.
St. Louis Cardinals May Regret Notable Offseason Signing