Dustin May to hit free agency after declining mutual option with Brewers: Source

Dustin May, one of 12 Milwaukee Brewers pitchers used in the club’s World Series-winning run, is set to become a free agent, according to a league source who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The 29-year-old declined a $20 million mutual option attached to the original one-year, $12.5 million pact he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals last winter.

May, now a four-time World Series champion, was traded to the Brewers at the Aug. 3 trade deadline, alongside reliever JoJo Romero. After missing out on Tarik Skubal, the Brewers envisioned May as a veteran who could help fortify a rotation headlined by two players — Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson — who’d yet to earn a full year of service time.

That, however, never came to fruition.

May faltered down the stretch, posting a 5.65 ERA and minus-0.3 bWAR in 10 starts for the Brewers, necessitating a move to the bullpen. He was called upon five times this postseason, including fill-in starts in Game 3 of the Division Series and Game 4 of the World Series. In all, May tallied 11 innings and seven earned runs (5.73 ERA), with eight strikeouts against just two walks.

A seven-year veteran, May’s career has been highlighted more often than not by events occurring off the field than on it. Up until this past season, May had never made 30 starts or pitched 145 innings. He’s twice gone under the knife for UCL surgery, as well as a procedure for an esophageal tear from eating salad.

However, in what is shaping up to be a more top-heavy free-agent class, May stands out as a decent veteran who, when healthy, can post every fifth day. That alone can be valuable for any club looking for back-end help.

Fabian Ardaya contributed reporting to this story.