The St. Louis Cardinals continue to reshape their roster as they prepare for Opening Day, making another notable move shortly after adding infield depth. In the latest transaction, the club parted ways with 27-year-old right-hander Zak Kent following their agreement with infielder Ramon Urias.
The Cardinals have made it clear that they are in the middle of a significant transition. Earlier in the offseason, the organization signaled a new direction by trading four of its top players, ushering in what many view as a rebuilding phase. Despite that shift, St. Louis has not completely stood still. The team has selectively added pieces it believes can help stabilize the roster, including signing right-hander Dustin May to strengthen the front end of the rotation.
On Saturday, the Cardinals announced they had reached a one-year agreement with Ramon Urias, bringing the versatile infielder into the fold for the upcoming season. To make room for Urias on the 40-man roster, the club designated Zak Kent for assignment. The move effectively ends Kent’s brief return to St. Louis, just days after he was claimed off waivers.
According to MLB Trade Rumors’ Charlie Wright, the transaction was primarily procedural, as Urias required a spot on the 40-man roster. However, Kent’s situation highlights how turbulent his offseason has been. The Cardinals originally claimed him off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians in December. Roughly a month later, he lost his roster spot when St. Louis added left-hander Justin Bruihl. Kent was then claimed by the Texas Rangers, only to be removed from their roster after they signed left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Most recently, the Cardinals reclaimed Kent, but his second stint with the organization lasted just five days before this latest designation.
It has been a whirlwind few months for the 27-year-old, who has now moved between multiple organizations in a short span. With Opening Day just weeks away, Kent once again finds himself available to other teams, either via waiver claim or outright assignment if he clears waivers.
Despite the instability, Kent has shown flashes of potential. He made his Major League debut last season with the Cleveland Guardians, appearing in limited action but delivering respectable results. Over 17 2/3 innings, he allowed nine earned runs and struck out 16 batters. While the sample size was small, it was enough to suggest that he possesses the tools to contribute at the big league level.
At this point, Kent appears to be on the fringe of a 40-man roster, but pitching depth is always in demand across Major League Baseball. Given his age and recent MLB experience, it would not be surprising to see another club take a chance on him as bullpen depth before the regular season begins.
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