Dustin May might’ve thrown his last pitch in a Cardinals uniform Wednesday night. The right-hander took the mound against the Cubs at Busch Stadium with trade rumors swirling around him, and he delivered exactly the kind of performance that’ll have contenders picking up the phone.
But it wasn’t May’s line that got everyone talking.
After he finished his outing, May headed back to the dugout and got hit with a series of hugs from teammates and coaches. That’s trade deadline gold right there – the unofficial “hug watch” that has baseball fans scrutinizing every embrace like it’s the Zapruder film.
Foul Territory caught the whole thing and posted it with a knowing caption: “Dustin May received several hugs in the dugout after completing his outing today.”
Dustin May received several hugs in the dugout after completing his outing today. pic.twitter.com/qvvDRP3gC3
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 30, 2026
Then the Cardinals themselves added fuel to the fire with their own post: “Tip of the cap to you, DMay “
Tip of the cap to you, DMay pic.twitter.com/1e0bC5zvfn
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 30, 2026
Now, maybe this was just teammates congratulating May after a solid start. But considering we’re two days from the deadline and the 28-year-old has been mentioned in trade talks all month? That felt like more than your typical Wednesday night at the ballpark.
The Perfect Trade Candidate
May’s situation makes him one of the Cardinals’ most attractive trade assets. He signed a one-year, $12 million deal with St. Louis after leaving the Dodgers, with a $20 million mutual option for 2027. That’s the kind of contract flexibility that gets GMs excited.
The timing always made sense for a potential move. St. Louis sits at 53-54 after dropping eight of their first 11 games following the All-Star break. They’re not out of it completely, but they’re definitely not where they hoped to be.
May’s overall numbers – 5-7 with a 4.59 ERA – don’t exactly scream “ace,” but they don’t tell the whole story either.
After getting shellacked in his first two starts with St. Louis (13 earned runs), May found his groove. His best moment came June 15 when he threw his first career complete game, limiting the Padres to just one hit in a 3-0 win. That’s the kind of upside that catches attention.
What makes May even more appealing is his postseason resume. He’s been there three times with the Dodgers and was part of their 2020 World Series championship team. For contenders looking at a playoff run, that experience matters.
Cardinals’ Dilemma
St. Louis finds itself in that uncomfortable middle ground. They’re not good enough to feel confident about October, but they’re not bad enough to wave the white flag completely.
Keeping May means they can still chase a late-season surge. Trading him means adding young talent while cashing in on a market where multiple contenders need pitching help.
It’s the kind of decision that defines deadline strategy.
The Cardinals haven’t announced anything official, and maybe those dugout hugs were just teammates being supportive. But anyone who’s covered trade deadlines knows that sometimes a series of embraces tells you more than any carefully worded front office statement.
For now, hug watch is officially underway in St. Louis. And if May’s Cardinals career is indeed over, at least it ended with his teammates showing him some love.
