The St. Louis Cardinals continued shaping their pitching staff for 2026 by officially adding right-hander Zak Kent, a 27-year-old reliever claimed off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians. Although the transaction arrives without major fanfare, it could become one of those under-the-radar moves that pays off as the season unfolds. Kent offers the Cardinals a young, controllable arm with strikeout ability and a solid minor-league foundation — an appealing combination for a team seeking stability and depth.
Kent originally entered professional baseball as a ninth-round pick of the Texas Rangers in 2019 before joining Cleveland, where he made his long-awaited MLB debut in 2025. Across 12 appearances, he posted a 4.58 ERA in 17 2/3 innings, recording 16 strikeouts against eight walks. The numbers hardly signal dominance, but they represent a pitcher adjusting to big-league hitters while flashing enough raw ability to keep evaluators interested. His fastball-slider mix earned positive notes at times, suggesting he has the tools to become a consistent middle-relief contributor if refined.
In Triple-A last season, Kent was more impressive. Over 34 outings totaling 38 innings, he delivered a 2.84 ERA while striking out 50 batters. That strikeout rate highlights why several teams kept Kent on their radar. For the Cardinals, it signals potential untapped upside — a pitcher whose stuff can play up in short bursts if developed correctly. His ability to miss bats is especially attractive for a St. Louis bullpen that struggled at times in 2025 with generating swing-and-miss.
The move also reflects the Cardinals’ roster-building strategy: acquire affordable, controllable arms with developmental upside rather than relying exclusively on expensive free agents. Kent fits that profile perfectly. With multiple bullpen roles unsettled heading into Spring Training, he will likely be given a legitimate chance to compete for a middle-relief or long-relief job. Even if he starts the season in Triple-A Memphis, he will be among the first arms called up when injuries arise — which is inevitable over a 162-game season.
From Cleveland’s perspective, placing Kent on waivers likely stemmed from a roster crunch. The Guardians boast considerable pitching depth, and Kent was sometimes overshadowed by other young arms. For St. Louis, though, that roster squeeze presented an opportunity worth seizing. Given his minor-league strikeout numbers and the Cardinals’ track record of helping pitchers refine command, Kent arrives in a system that could maximize his strengths.
There is no guarantee Kent becomes a major bullpen piece. His MLB command must improve, and his pitch consistency remains a work in progress. Still, the cost is minimal. The Cardinals risk almost nothing beyond a 40-man spot — and the reward could be a reliable reliever with multiple years of club control.
In an offseason defined by bigger headlines, St. Louis may have quietly added a valuable weapon. If Zak Kent continues his development, this waiver claim might be remembered as one of the savvier depth moves of the Cardinals’ winter.
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