The Dodgers and pitcher Dustin May avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.135-million contract for next season, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly.

The deal came ahead of Friday’s deadline for teams to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players. May, 27, has a 3.10 earned-run average in 46 appearances but has yet to fulfill his promise as a top prospect because of struggles with injuries, making just 20 starts since the beginning of 2021.

May had Tommy John surgery five starts into his 2021 season, scuttling his impressive start. After returning near the end of 2022, May had his 2023 season cut short by another elbow surgery, this time to repair his flexor tendon. Then, after initially hoping to return this past season, May required surgery for a torn esophagus in July after feeling a pain in his throat and stomach at dinner, sidelining him for the remainder of the year.

Despite all that, the Dodgers still envision May as a potential impact player in his final season under team control before free agency. The right-hander is expected to be ready for opening day. The Dodgers are hopeful that, even after two significant elbow surgeries, he still will possess much of his old, wicked stuff. And for a team that remains in need of starting pitching, May should be an option to provide depth and innings.

With May’s contract settled, the Dodgers have seven other players eligible for arbitration: Evan Phillips (who is estimated to receive $6.2 million, per MLB Trade Rumors), Tony Gonsolin ($5.4 million), Michael Kopech ($5.2 million), Brusdar Graterol ($2.7 million), Gavin Lux ($2.7 million), Alex Vesia ($1.9 million) and Anthony Banda ($1.1 million).

Another arbitration-eligible player, reliever Connor Brogdon, was outrighted to triple-A Oklahoma City last week.