The Boston Red Sox have made a significant move ahead of the MLB trade deadline, acquiring right-handed pitcher Dustin May from the Los Angeles Dodgers. This strategic acquisition, in exchange for prospects James Tibbs III and additional considerations, signals the Boston Red Sox‘s intent to bolster their pitching staff with an intriguing arm known for both high potential and a challenging injury history, a key development in MLB news.

May arrives in Boston in what has been his healthiest and most active season to date, a crucial development given his past struggles with injuries. The 27-year-old right-hander has logged 19 games in 2025, surpassing 100 innings for the first time in his Major League career. This marks a notable increase from his previous high of 56.0 innings in 2020, demonstrating a positive trajectory in his durability for professional baseball.

Currently, Dustin May holds a 6-7 record with a 4.85 ERA across 19 appearances, including 18 starts. Over his 104 innings pitched this season, he has recorded 97 strikeouts while issuing 43 walks. His final appearance in a Dodgers uniform was against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 27, where he allowed four runs over five innings in a game Boston ultimately won 4-3, a notable event in this Red Sox Trade.

While his 2025 statistics may not immediately impress, the Boston Red Sox are banking on the form Dustin May displayed prior to his significant injuries. Before undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2023, May boasted a formidable 3.10 career ERA with the Dodgers, even earning the prestigious Opening Day start in 2020 when Clayton Kershaw was sidelined. This past performance offers a glimpse into the high ceiling Boston hopes to unlock for their new pitcher.

May’s promising career has been frequently interrupted by various elbow ailments and other unfortunate incidents. He has undergone two Tommy John surgeries: the first in 2021 after making just five starts that year with a 2.74 ERA, and a second revision surgery in July 2023 to correct his right flexor tendon, following a promising 4-1 start with a 2.63 ERA over nine games earlier that season, making his journey a significant topic for MLB fans.

Despite these considerable setbacks, including a brief return in August 2022 where he pitched six games before back tightness ended his season, Dustin May has consistently shown flashes of his elite potential. His journey highlights the immense physical and mental resilience required to overcome such significant challenges in professional baseball, making this Red Sox Trade a story of perseverance.

Upon learning of the Red Sox Trade, May expressed a profound sense of relief and excitement. “It was really, really heavy. I’m alive. I’m glad I’m here. Just a huge excitement, like a breath of fresh air. Like a new beginning, kind of,” he shared. This sentiment underscores his eagerness for a fresh start and his readiness to contribute to his new team’s pitching efforts, a development eagerly anticipated by the Boston Red Sox faithful.