The Cardinals have claimed right-hander Zak Kent off waivers from the Rangers, reports Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Texas had designated Kent for assignment last week to clear space for left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Both teams have confirmed the move.
St. Louis designated infielder Bryan Ramos for assignment to add Kent. Ramos was claimed off waivers from the Orioles in early February.
It’s Kent’s second stint this offseason with the Cardinals. His transaction carousel began in December, when St. Louis grabbed him off waivers from the Guardians. He lasted about a month, then was bumped off the roster when the Cardinals acquired left-hander Justin Bruihl. The Rangers claimed him shortly thereafter.
Kent was drafted by Texas in 2019. The 28-year-old had spent his entire career with the organization until a cash deal sent him to Cleveland. Kent made it up for his big-league debut in April of this past season. He notched a 4.58 ERA across 12 appearances with the Guardians. Kent posted a 21.1% strikeout rate to go with a double-digit walk rate.
While his numbers were somewhat underwhelming with the Guardians, Kent put up a strong campaign at Triple-A in 2025. He cruised to a 2.84 ERA with a strong 31.4% strikeout rate. Kent picked up his first two professional saves with the Clippers.
The Cardinals now send Ramos back to DFA limbo just 10 days after claiming him. The 23-year-old infielder had spent his entire career in the White Sox organization before being dealt for cash to the Orioles a couple of weeks back. He’ll provide depth in the minors if St. Louis can get him through waivers.
Ramos has appeared in each of the past two seasons with the White Sox. He’s totaled 120 plate appearances as a big leaguer, slashing .198/.244/.333 in the brief sample. Ramos has only appeared at third base with Chicago, but he has minor league experience at first base, second base, and left field.
Photo courtesy of Ken Blaze, Imagn Images
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You’re unhappy, Grady. Why?
When I point at you, you speak.
The whole system is whacked. They gotta put a minimum amount of time you have to hold onto these rule 5 guys. This guy can’t get a uniform on before he’s been on five teams in a month
If he is going to stay with the Cardinals in the rebuild years, he needs to be Clark Kent.
A bit surprised that they are risking losing Ramos. A right handed hitter who can play 3b and 1b is a need on the team. And he has enough former prospect status hes worth giving a shot on a rebuilding team.
Ramos isn’t good. Balt dumped him right after claiming w/o hesitation thinking he’d go through and not worried if he didn’t. Good chance Cards were the last to give him a 40 man spot and will be able to still keep him.
Baltimore is trying to win games. St Louis is not. As i imagine you know Ramos was one of the White Sox better prospects a couple years ago. He’s worth giving a chance on a team like the Cardinals.
We have a lot of those “better prospects a couple years ago” already.
Problem is that Ramos doesn’t have any option years left.
So, if he’s on the 40 man roster, he needs to be on the 26-man MLB roster.
The guy was a well below average hitter in AAA last year (79 wRC+ in 431 PA’s)
If he can’t AAA pitching better than that, what’s the point of having him on the major league roster?
He’s reportedly an amazing defensive 3B, but his level of hitting production is pretty much unplayable in the majors for anyone other than a good defensive catcher.
The only reasonable way to take a chance on him, imho, is to follow the approach that the team seems to be taking: DFA him, see if he clears waivers, send him to the minors if he does. I think the only real upside with him is if he unlocks something in the minors with instruction (maybe a different approach from different minor league hitting coaching) and developmental reps.
He could clear waivers and sent to the minors.
Well, I was initially sad to lose Kent on waivers a few months ago when they acquired Bruihl, so that’s cool to have him back — but I was kind of looking forward to see what Ramos could contribute and actually saw him having a chance at a bench spot. I probably would’ve DFA’d Roycroft.
Roycroft must have dirt on somebody. He has held onto the 40 spot somehow
Apparently roycroft looks really good to the team early on in camp. I’m sure that may have played a role in keeping him, especially considering he’s one of the few pen arms with options
Shame what this new GM has done. They should have added TOR pitching and kept Sonny, Contreras, Donovan, and Nolan. Their claims of financial distress are lies. They just needed some shrewd moves like Mo used to do before being handcuffed by ownership and ultimately, falling on the sword for an organization who hung him out to dry. Disgraceful.
Lol what are you smoking?
Life, reality, and keen baseball knowledge.
If this isn’t sarcasm then its just a big pile of yikes.
They’ve lost 75% of their TV revenue. What shrewd moves did John Mo make that has you so so so enamored with him? Bloom is confident where Mo was too cautious. Mo admitted the cards player development had major problems while he was the GM. Embrace the change
I’m a Cardinals fan who is both morally and pragmatically opposed to tanking. With that said, I think you’re partly right and partly wrong.
Nado’s offense has declined for 3 straight years and he’s blocking Gorman, Wetherholt, etc. Honestly I might have gotten rid of him even if I was gunning for the World Series.
Contreras is also pretty redundant on a team with Burleson, Gorman, Herrera, and Pages. Also makes sense to flip him.
But keeping Grey and signing Gallen or Bassitt or even an upside SP might have gotten you to 86-87 wins. Which I prefer over a rebuilding season
Going that route is why they are in need of a rebuild. Can not keep trying to tread water forever. You have to do what needs done and hope it works. If it does youre a lot better off than 86-87 wins. And for more years.
Welcome to Chaim Bloom ball buddy! Hope you enjoy the next few years of underachieving branded as “retooling”! To find out more, see his Red Sox tenure
Gotta pay the toll troll…
I respect your game slider. They have no idea.
That should do it.
Watch out Dodgers!
Now that the team has ZAK,
Will it be CLARK KENT covering the team??
boooooooo
Next we need St. Louis to re-DFA Kent and the Guardians to claim him. Full circle. Balance will be restored in the universe.
I don’t think the Cards are tanking. They are getting into the 21st Century. The Owner let the minors ,training and coaching fall apart. Now the pitchers and hitters are getting instruction. They have the new technology they let lapse. The pitching side of the minors is stocked. This team will be back in the hunt in two years or less. Winn, Burleson and Herrera and Weatherholt are good to build around. The way the team was playing the last couple years I don’t think it was enticing for free agents.
Good thing Zak can change uniforms in a phone booth.
Heard Ramos has a major weigh problem…probably showed up for physicals and teams just said oh no…