Cardinals Quietly Add Depth with Waiver Claim of RHP Zak Kent
While the St. Louis Cardinals made headlines earlier this offseason with a blockbuster trade, they’ve followed it up with a more understated-but potentially savvy-move. On Friday, the club announced it had claimed right-handed pitcher Zak Kent off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians, adding another arm to a roster still very much in flux.
This isn’t the type of transaction that sets social media ablaze, but it’s the kind of low-risk, potentially high-reward pickup that can quietly pay dividends over a long season. With Kent now officially part of the 40-man roster, the Cardinals are down to just one open spot-a number that could change in the coming weeks with additional trades likely on the horizon.
A Familiar Face for the Front Office
Kent, 27, brings with him seven years of professional experience, though his time in the big leagues has been limited. Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the ninth round back in 2019, Kent was developed as a starter before his tenure in Texas came to an end.
The Guardians acquired him before the 2024 season, and while his time in Cleveland wasn’t smooth sailing, there’s a connection worth noting: Cardinals Assistant GM Rob Cerfolio was with the Guardians when Kent was brought in. That familiarity may have played a role in St.
Louis acting quickly once Kent hit waivers.
A Rocky Road to the Majors
Kent’s 2024 campaign was a rollercoaster. He spent the year bouncing between the injured list and the minor leagues, even being released and re-signed by Cleveland at one point. But he showed enough in the Arizona Fall League to earn a spring training invite, and to his credit, he made the Guardians’ Opening Day roster in 2025.
Still, Kent’s season was anything but stable. He was optioned to Triple-A and placed on the IL multiple times, racking up a total of 10 transactions throughout the year. It wasn’t until September that he finally found some consistency-and that’s when things started to click.
A Strong September Showing
Over the final month of the season, Kent made eight of his 12 big league appearances, logging 10.1 innings and picking up his first MLB win. He posted a 3.48 ERA during that stretch and showed flashes of what he might be capable of in a middle-relief or long-relief role. His arsenal, built around a 92 mph fastball and two sharp breaking balls, helped him strike out 16 batters over 17.2 innings.
What stood out most? His ability to cover multiple innings. Five of his 12 appearances spanned more than one frame, which could be exactly how the Cardinals envision using him-especially given the current uncertainty in their bullpen.
What This Means for the Cardinals
Let’s be clear: Kent isn’t walking into a guaranteed spot on the 26-man roster. But he’ll be in the mix when Spring Training opens, and with the Cardinals still sorting out roles across their pitching staff-from ace to closer-there’s opportunity to be had.
St. Louis has already added Scott Blewett and Richard Fitts this offseason, and Kent fits that same mold: a depth piece with upside, someone who could earn a bullpen role if things break right.
The back end of the bullpen currently features JoJo Romero and Matt Svanson, but little is set in stone. If Kent can stay healthy and build on his late-season momentum, he could carve out a meaningful role.
Bottom line: this isn’t a headline-grabbing move, but it’s the kind of depth addition that smart teams make. And if Kent can stay on the field and keep missing bats, the Cardinals might have found themselves a useful piece for 2026.
