It’s been apparent all season long that the New York Yankees’ starting rotation has been hurt by injuries. They have navigated the entire season without Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and now, Clarke Schmidt is also out, leaving the rotation wth Carlos Rodon, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Marcus Stroman. No wonder their combined pitching ERA since July 1 is a league-worst 6.13.
The Bombers are tied for the third-fewest losses by their starting rotation in MLB, but that has been influenced by their offense and bullpen at times. Their overall team ERA sits just under league average at around 4.00. To swing things back for good, the Yankees need to add a reliable fifth starter to the rotation, and they seem to have already made their choice.
The Bombers have been labelled as the “frontrunners” to land the Los Angeles Dodgers’ star Dustin May, per Pat Ragazzo.
Per @ragazzoreport, the Yankees have “emerged” as frontrunners to acquire Dustin May.
— Dodgers Tailgate (@DodgersTailgate) July 28, 2025
May, when healthy, can produce electric stuff. His four-seam fastball has been really tough to hit this season, holding opposing batters to just a .111 average, according to Baseball Savant. That kind of swing-and-miss ability is exactly what the Yankees crave, particularly in the competitive AL East.
Yes, the 27-year-old has struggled in terms of consistency at times, holding a 4.85 ERA across 19 appearances (18 starts) this season, along with a 1.34 WHIP. But the Yankees are clearly looking at his upside. If he clicks in the Bronx, he can provide that crucial boost to the rotation for a deep postseason run. But apart from the Yanks, who else has May on their radar?
The Cleveland Guardians are also linked with Dustin May
Entering Monday, the Guardians were only 3 and a half games behind in the wild card race and only one game under .500. Considering that, they may approach this trade deadline in many ways. And it seems like they may link up with the Dodgers for a trade.
Recently, a source briefed Ken Rosenthal on the Dodgers’ plans ahead of the trade deadline. The thing is, if the Dodgers decide to trade Dustin May, it would be likely for an outfielder. And to their rescue, the Guardians have a perfect player that the Dodgers may show interest in.
It’s Angel Martinez. Since July, he has recorded a slash line of .279/.333/.523 with four home runs, 13 RBIs, and 9 doubles. And let’s not forget that the Dodgers are currently without their star utility player, Kike Hernandez. His return is uncertain since he’s dealing with left elbow inflammation.
It’s not the first time that the Dodgers and Guardians have been linked for a potential trade. Back in 2023, the Dodgers sent Noah Syndergaard in exchange for Amed Rosario from the Guardians. And the May-Martinez trade sounds even better if it materializes.
So, where do you think May will end up—with the Yankees or with the Guardians?
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