The Athletic’s potential fits for Dustin May confirm Dodgers totally fleeced Red Sox

Looking back on it, it's a miracle that the Dodgers managed to trade Dustin May for more than a single prospect in return, and even more of one that the headlining prospect they got back is actually very good. It's either a credit to the Dodgers' front office or an indictment on the Red Sox's — maybe it's a little bit of both.

Red Sox fans were incensed that, in giving up James Tibbs III in exchange for May, they ostensibly let Rafael Devers go the Giants for Kyle Harrison (who they demoted immediately after the trade), Jordan Hicks (8.20 ERA in Boston), and the always-injured May.

May had a decent first few starts in 2025 for the Dodgers, which certainly helped the team sell him, but he turned back into a pumpkin after being traded to Boston. In his first appearance there, he gave up six hits and three runs in 3 2/3 innings. And, after miraculously avoiding the IL for most of the season with the Dodgers, he missed basically all of September with "elbow neuritis."

May is now a free agent for the first time in his career, and The Athletic's "best fit" destinations for him won't make him feel all warm and fuzzy. They listed the White Sox, Twins, and Nationals.

The Athletic predicts former Dodger Dustin May will land with bottom-feeder team in free agency

May made $2.135 million this season in his last year of arbitration eligibility, and there's little hope that he makes more than $10 million, if that, in free agency. It definitely makes him a budget-friendly option for the likes of the White Sox, Twins, and Nationals, but that's quite the descent from the baseball penthouse that is the Dodgers.

Meanwhile, Tibbs absolutely tore it up in Double-A, hitting .269 with a .900 OPS, seven homers, and 32 RBI in 36 games after the trade.

Again, it's a miracle that the Dodgers managed to pry a top prospect away in exchange for May, but the Red Sox were in dire need of a starter at the time, and it drove them to make an ill-informed decision that they're certainly regretting right now.

It'll be interesting to see where May ends up, but The Athletic probably has this one right. The likelihood that he goes to a contender after years and bad luck, bad health, and bad performance is basically zero.