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Padres could fit the bill for Dustin May's comeback and watch him hit the jackpot

It might be a better fit than you think.
ByPJ Potter
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Oct 27, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Dustin May (21) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning in game four of the 2026 World Series at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Oct 27, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Dustin May (21) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning in game four of the 2026 World Series at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

High risk. High reward. That sentiment pretty much sums up the career of Dustin May, who has battled as many injuries as total seasons he's been a major league pitcher. Now, the 29-year-old is on the free-agent market this offseason, and May's case is not an easy one to break down.

He is projected to sign a two-year deal in the $30 million range this winter, which is not a steep contract, but still a risky one. The San Diego Padres currently have a ton of question marks with their starting rotation, but one thing is for certain: Upgrades are needed.

May not be considered an "upgrade" by some fans, but he is, at the very least, someone who can be productive. May's durability has soured his career, but that might be behind him. Should the Padres dip their toes back into the waters of former Dodgers pitchers desperate for a resurgence? The Friars wouldn't need to shell out a lot of money for May, which is a good start. But his track record of injuries is enough to raise the red flags.

Dustin May might have finally broken free of the injury bug. Should the Padres pursue him?

May just wrapped up his seventh season in the bigs. And for just the second time in his career, he logged more than 100 innings — which he has now done in back-to-back years. Yes, his injury-prone career is enough to repel the Padres front office from offering him a deal.

But he's made 54 starts since the start of the 2025 season. In his prior five years, he made 34 combined. May still throws hard and has a good curveball to complement it. Let's say that May does sign with San Diego. If you give him an offseason working with pitching coach Ruben Niebla, there's no telling what May's ceiling could be.

Let's also not forget that May dismantled the Padres this season. In three starts, spanning 22 innings, he had a 1.23 ERA with 22 strikeouts. This included two starts at Petco Park, where he has a 3.07 ERA for his career (47.2 IP).

At face value, we are looking at a hard-throwing back-end starting pitcher who won't call for a high AAV. Injuries seem to be in his rearview mirror. Consistent innings aren't a surprise anymore. Plus, he has decent numbers at what would be his home ballpark. Is that enough for San Diego's front office to strongly consider Dustin May?

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