Right-handed reliever Trevor May announced his retirement from professional baseball on his Twitch channel earlier today. His full comments can be found here. The 34-year-old spent the 2023 campaign with the Athletics, pitching to a 3.28 ERA with a 4.71 FIP in 49 games.
“I have a thousand things that I want to do, a million things… everything that I do outside of the game has just lit me up, and I really enjoy doing it,” May said during his announcement, “I love talking pitching, I love talking about the game, I love teaching people about the game… this is not the end of my relationship with the game of baseball, I just want to go out on my own terms.”
Drafted by the Phillies in the fourth round of the 2008 draft, May made his big league debut as a starting pitcher with the Twins in 2014. His time in the rotation did not go well, as he posted a 5.85 ERA across 26 career stars, almost exclusively concentrated in his first two seasons with Minnesota. After converting to the bullpen in July of 2015, May saw his results improve significantly, as he posted a 3.15 ERA and 3.25 FIP in 34 1/3 innings for the remainder of the season.
That revelation late in the 2014 season led May to convert to the bullpen full-time from 2016 onward, and May went on to be a solid relief option for the Twins over the next five seasons. Though he missed the 2017 season due to Tommy John surgery, May posted a 3.76 ERA and 3.63 FIP in 155 2/3 innings of work while striking out 32.7% of batters faced from 2016 until 2020, his final year in Minnesota. The most impressive of those seasons was May’s 2019 campaign during which he posted a sterling 2.94 ERA, 55% better than league average by measure of ERA+, with a solid 3.73 FIP.
Upon departing the Twins, May signed a two-year deal with the Mets. His first campaign with the club went quite well, as he posted a 3.59 and 3.74 FIP in 62 2/3 innings of work with the club as one of the primary set-up men for closer Edwin Diaz. Unfortunately, 2022 saw May struggle with injuries, as a stress reaction in his humerus sidelined him for most of the season. Ultimately, May departed New York following the 2022 campaign having thrown 87 2/3 innings of 4.00 ERA (100 ERA+) ball with a 3.78 FIP and a 30% strikeout rate.
That led May to the A’s, where he received his first opportunity to act as a club’s primary closer, though he had already picked up 12 saves over his years in Minnesota and Queens. After a difficult start to the season, May spent a month on the injured list due to issues pertaining to anxiety. Upon returning just before Memorial Day, May finished the season in dominant fashion with a 1.99 ERA and 3.92 FIP in 40 1/3 innings of work, though his full-season strikeout (19.5%) and walk (14.1%) rates did not reflect his excellent results. Despite the shaky peripherals, May took to the closer’s role with aplomb, going 21-for-22 in save opportunities throughout the remainder of the season.
Altogether, May posted a 4.24 ERA and 3.79 FIP in 450 1/3 innings of work across nine major league seasons. He finished 102 games while picking up 33 saves and punched out 520 batters in just 358 career games. We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate May on a fine career, and wish him well in all of his post-playing endeavors.
Good for him. Happy that he sought treatment for anxiety rather than suffer in silence. When he had enough – he walked away. Again, good for him.
Looks like he made close to 26mill in his career, not sure what that is minus taxes and agent fees etc…
Always kept track of him after he left the Phils…
It is not f u money. But it is take-a-hike money.
He has his pile, it will do, and henceforth anyone who stresses him can take a hike.
Eight figure money is F-U money in my book I suppose perhaps in California or New York or wherever that simply puts u in the lower tiers of the “elite” but still that’s F-U cash ha
1 million is enough for a start up? Just ask Donald….
Maybe in 1980
Good luck and happy trails former Baby Ace, ahh what could have been in Philly….
First time I’ve heard the ‘Baby Aces’ mentioned in a long time.
thegoodphight.com/2014/6/21/5829808/the-baby-aces-…
Actually remember that post and somewhere in my brain, have a memory of the phillies.com header as well…. Good times (at the time)….
Much Mahalo BHJ!
Hey we’ll always have Konstanty, Roberts, Simmons, Bunning, Ruthven, Myers, Hamels and Nola…..(am done trying to think)
Oh yeah and that Jenkins guy…..
At least,he went out pitching well. He had a decent career
May threw sub-2.00 ERA ball since the beginning of June. Didn’t get much recognition though because he was in Oakland and I think didn’t start getting saves until a few months in. Really surprised to see the announcement but I’m listening to his stream now and he sounds like he was very ready to be done.
Pitched pretty well the 2nd half and was probably one of the only bright spots on a brutal A’s team. Looked to have quite a bit left in the tank. Good for him to prioritize what’s really important to him and his family. From his comments, it sounds like his best work is still ahead of him. Hat tip.
Congratulations on a great career and for leaving that sewage factory in Oakland
Actually, the Coliseum isn’t a bad place to watch a few day games each season. The park is thoroughly worn out; but the weather’s always beautiful, the park’s employees are grateful you’re there, the food and drink are very good, and baseball is baseball.
And u can ALWAYS get seats
Right behind the plate.
Lol
Front row seats for me and my son behind visitor’s dugout for 50 each plus parking for a Saturday game against Diamondbacks. Awesome deal!
Congratulations, Trevor May.
May Trevor enjoy his retirement.
> May Trevor enjoy his retirement.
But maybe May may regret it.
May Trevor May enjoy next May.
Entrepreneur extraordinaire
I enjoyed his MLBTR work. His telling of his adventures in baseball life made it clear that he is a captivating tale weaver.
He had a good year with a losing team, I’m sure he would have gotten another contract for next year easily. Best of luck to him though!
Do you have a sense of his career earnings? Be nice to see that info in this write up.
To answer your question, all you have to do is google “Trevor May career earnings” and multiple informative sites with the pertinent information will magically appear.
Every player’s Baseball Reference page has a career earnings section. If you scroll past the stats, a Show Salaries section will show you a year by year breakdown. Hauled in about 22 million the last 3 years. Helluva retirement plan.
The baseball-reference page linked above has his salary information all the way at the bottom. In total, he’s made $27,355,000 (pre-tax and agent fees). Probably never has to work again, though it sounds like there’s still a lot he wants to do (analysis, writing, coaching, etc). Given his strong finish to the season, he probably left a decent chunk of money on the table, too.
He’d have to screw up pretty bad financially to ever have to work again. That doesn’t even count a six figure pension that will eventually come his way.
Remember seeing him on the prospect lists. Not many guys get much success, let alone a career like is. Good luck in life after the show.
He has a good YouTube channel that is worth checking out
Good for him. I see guys with good, long careers, traveling back and forth for one more gig. I guess that’s their life, but if feels a bit sad.
Most retire by age 40 or shortly after. They get to retire relatively young overall and very young as far as the average worker. While playing and traveling They have camaraderie of the team and get to see more of the country then most will ever get to see. I’d say it is anything but sad.
Why is it sad? Give it all you got until you don’t want to anymore.
Good Luck to You on Your New Endeavors Trevor!
Congrats on your retirement, Trevor! Way to go out on your terms buddy
He’s a DJ and electronic music producer. Hope he enjoys his studio and parties.
Trevor May retire.
He should have done so in May.
A future coach
Never heard of him
That says more about you than about him.
Congrats on a solid career fellow KHS alumn!
Wow.
I know he was dealing with some issues early this season, but seemed to get back on track. I thought for sure the A’s would trade him at the deadline. I wonder if they opted not to so he could finish in a familiar setting?
Good career. Wish him well in his retirement from baseball.
Not too many people walk away still decent, at their platue or whatever. Most wait until they’re trending down. Hope he does well in his post baseball player career, or post baseball career.
Dude got paid more than most will ever see in lifetime 4playing kids gm. Choosing to leave profession while still performing @serviceable level. Bravo. Enjoy spending that pile of loot doing whatever heart desires. That’s pretty nice fairy tale.
Congrats and thanks for your years in MN. You were owned late-season in our deep 12-team fantasy league.
No mention of how he CRUSHED John Fisher on his way out?
For those interested, here’s what he said about John Fisher:
May took to Twitch to stream his messages on his retirement and thoughts on Fisher.
“Now that it’s official, to the A’s organization and every single person who’s part of it, I love all of you. Every single one of you except for … one guy, and we all know who that guy is,” May said. “Sell the team, dude. I tried to get a ‘SELL’ shirt. It didn’t get here fast enough. Sell it, man. Let someone who actually takes pride in the things they own, own something. There’s actually people who give a s— about the game. Let them do it.
“Take Mommy and Daddy’s money somewhere else, dork. And also, if you’re going to be a greedy f—, own it. There’s nothing weaker than being afraid of cameras. That’s one thing I really struggled with this year, not just eviscerating that guy. Do what you’re going to do, bro. You’re whatever. You’re a billionaire. You guys have all this power. You shouldn’t have any because you didn’t earn any of it.
“Anyway, whatever. It is what it is. Reality is, you got handed everything you have, and now you’re too soft to take any responsibility for anything you’re doing. Yeah, whatever, Oakland is Oakland. You could make all the cases, it’s not a great city. But you’re putting hundreds, if not thousands, of people out of work that have worked somewhere for decades, and you haven’t acknowledged that at all.
“Just be better. That’s all we’re asking. Be a human being.”
That’s FIRE! Lol
Thanks. He did, he roasted Fisher 20 mins after he quit lol Took sum balls n he don’t sugar coat it, good4 May
Congratulations Trevor on your retirement and best wishes on future endeavors! Also, thanks for calling out loser owner Fisher, well done and well said!
Very impressive K numbers for sure!
This guy made over $27 million with only 36 wins and an ERA over 4. These players are way overpaid. This is just an opinion.
How much were you paid by the feds on J6?
Yeah the billionaires should keep more of the revenue…
Real smart point, bud
Love the way he exited. Decent final season then called out the lame Gap heir. Well played May…
Trevor’s parting shot “Sell the team, dude” and much more. A great listen
youtube.com/watch?v=ea3pO5hw2o0