ST. LOUIS (AP) — Right-hander Dustin May and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed Wednesday to a $12.5 million, one-year contract.
The 28-year-old has a $12 million salary next year and the deal includes a $20 million mutual option for 2027 with a $500,000 buyout.
May was 7-11 with a 4.96 ERA in 23 starts this year for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox, who . He was sidelined for about three weeks in September with right elbow nerve inflammation.
After making a pair of appearances as the Dodgers won the 2020 World Series, May hurt his elbow on May 1, 2021, and had Tommy John surgery 10 days later. He returned to a big league mound on Aug, 20, 2022, but made just six starts and went on the injured list with lower back tightness.
He started 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA in nine starts in 2023 but his season ended May 17 because of a flexor pronator strain that required surgery on July 1. While still recovering, he had surgery to repair an esophagus tear in July 2024. May returned to a major league mound this past April 1.
He is 19-20 with a 3.86 ERA in 57 starts and 14 relief appearances. May had a $2,135,000 salary this year in his last season of arbitration eligibility.
St. Louis designated Matt Koperniak for assignment to open a roster spot.
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