In a move that's as much about shuffling the deck as it is about reinforcing the team, the St. Louis Cardinals are playing musical chairs with their roster during Spring Training, designating infielder Bryan Ramos for assignment and claiming right-hander Zak Kent off waivers from the Texas Rangers, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Ramos, who was picked up off waivers from the Orioles earlier in February, finds himself on the move again potentially, his future with the organization up in the air after going .198/.244/.333 at the majors and .216/.309/.396 with 16 home runs at Triple-A Charlotte in the White Sox organization last year; the 23-year-old's big-league sample size is limited, which might have influenced the Cardinals' decision to make room on their roster.
Meanwhile, Kent, a 27-year-old pitcher, is returning to St. Louis having bounced around a bit this offseason; this marks his second stint with the Cardinals after a brief departure to the Rangers, during which Texas had to clear space for new addition, left-hander Jordan Montgomery, as Rotowire confirms.
Kent, originally selected by the Rangers in the 2019 MLB Draft and described as a 6-3, 205-pounder, has posted decent numbers in his minor league career and even held his own in MLB play, particularly against right-handed batters who were left with a paltry .552 OPS, all this data comes according to the report from STL Sports Page, although he did finish last season with a 4.58 ERA over 12 appearances with the Guardians, it's his Triple-A performance that likely caught the Cardinals' eye—a sparkling 2.84 ERA with two saves.
As the Cardinals gear up for the 2026 season, it's clear that the front office is looking to optimize their 40-man roster, hence the moves involving Ramos and Kent; while Ramos could still stay within the organization if he clears waivers, it's Kent who's getting another shot to prove his worth at the major league level.
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