The St. Louis Cardinals added right-handed reliever Zak Kent to their 40-player roster by claiming him off waivers on Friday. Kent, 27, made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Guardians in 2025 after six minor league seasons. This move brings the Cardinals' roster to 39 players ahead of the Rule 5 Draft.
The Cardinals' new front office, led by president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, is focusing on building competition in the bullpen and starting rotation. Kent, a 6-foot-3 pitcher from Virginia Military Institute, joins the organization after appearing in 12 relief games for the Guardians in 2025. He posted a 1-0 record with a 4.58 ERA over 17 2/3 innings, including a career-high three innings in his debut on April 23 against the New York Yankees. His only MLB win came on September 28 against the Texas Rangers.
Kent relied on his slider for 39 percent of pitches, holding opponents to a .138 batting average and recording eight strikeouts, according to Baseball Savant. His fastball averaged 92.8 mph, ranking in the 26th percentile, and he allowed just one home run across 76 batters faced. Primarily a starter in the minors with 63 appearances, Kent was recalled seven times by the Guardians and remains eligible for a fourth option year.
This acquisition provides depth for the Cardinals, who recently traded veteran starter Sonny Gray and are entertaining offers for lefty reliever JoJo Romero. Romero, 29, finished with a 2.07 ERA in 65 appearances, saving eight of nine chances, and is set for salary arbitration this winter. He becomes a free agent after 2026.
Kent will compete in 2026 spring training alongside Richard Fitts, Gordon Graceffo, Andre Granillo, Nick Raquet, and Chris Roycroft for a bullpen role. The move aligns with input from assistant GM Rob Cerfolio and director of player development Larry Day, both former Guardians staffers hired by Bloom. Cerfolio served as Cleveland's player development director from 2022-24, while Day was assistant field coordinator in 2023-24.
The Cardinals have a history of success with Rule 5 picks like Wilking Rodriguez in 2022 and Ryan Fernandez in 2023, though they passed on selections in 2024. Recent veteran additions, including Andrew Kittredge in 2024 and Phil Maton in 2025, have bolstered the bullpen. With the roster now at 39, St. Louis is positioned for the Rule 5 Draft at the MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando.