The St. Louis Cardinals made another notable adjustment to their roster on Monday, continuing what has been an active stretch of personnel moves as the organization fine-tunes its depth heading into the next phase of the season.
In an announcement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Cardinals revealed that they have designated 23-year-old infielder Bryan Ramos for assignment. The move clears a spot on the roster for right-handed pitcher Zak Kent, whom the club claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers. The transaction reflects the team’s ongoing effort to balance its infield depth with pitching needs, particularly as roster flexibility becomes increasingly important.
The official statement from St. Louis was straightforward and to the point. “We have claimed RHP Zak Kent off waivers from the Texas Rangers,” the organization announced. “3B Bryan Ramos has been designated for assignment.” With that brief message, the Cardinals signaled both their confidence in Kent’s potential value to the pitching staff and their willingness to part ways—at least for now—with a young infielder who had only recently joined the organization.
Kent, a right-handed pitcher, now gets an opportunity to join a new club after his time with Texas came to an end via the waiver process. By claiming him, St. Louis assumes his contract and adds him to its roster mix, likely viewing him as a depth option with upside. Waiver claims often represent low-risk opportunities for teams to evaluate players who may benefit from a change of scenery, and the Cardinals clearly saw enough promise in Kent to act quickly.
For Ramos, the designation for assignment introduces uncertainty. When a player is designated for assignment, the team has a limited window to either trade him, place him on outright waivers, or release him. It’s a procedural move that creates roster space but can also open the door for another organization to step in. At just 23 years old, Ramos remains young enough to draw interest from clubs looking to add controllable infield talent.
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His time with St. Louis, however, was brief and somewhat turbulent. Ramos’ stint in the Cardinals’ system lasted only a matter of days. Earlier in February, he had been traded to the Baltimore Orioles in a separate transaction. That move suggested that another organization saw value in his bat or defensive versatility. Yet his tenure with Baltimore was equally short-lived. After being let go by the Orioles, Ramos was subsequently claimed off waivers by St. Louis on Feb. 16, giving him a second chance within a new system.
That opportunity, however, proved fleeting. Just over a week later, he now finds himself once again navigating the waiver process. Such rapid movement is not uncommon for young players who occupy the fringes of a 40-man roster. Teams constantly weigh performance projections, positional depth, minor league options, and long-term planning when making these decisions. In Ramos’ case, the Cardinals evidently determined that bolstering their pitching depth with Kent was the more pressing priority.
From a broader perspective, the move underscores how fluid roster construction can be during the offseason and into spring. Organizations like St. Louis often cycle through multiple players in a short span, especially when evaluating depth pieces. Injuries, performance concerns, and strategic adjustments all factor into these calculations. While Ramos’ departure may seem abrupt, it reflects the competitive and business-driven nature of roster management at the major league level.
For Ramos personally, the coming days will be critical. If another team claims him, he will once again pack his bags and attempt to establish himself in yet another clubhouse. If he clears waivers, he could remain in the Cardinals’ system as a non-roster player, depending on the club’s decision. Either outcome keeps his professional journey alive, though the uncertainty is undoubtedly challenging.
Meanwhile, Kent will look to make the most of his new opportunity. Joining the Cardinals gives him a fresh start and a chance to carve out a role, whether in the bullpen or as rotation depth. Pitching is often at a premium across the league, and teams rarely pass up the chance to add arms with potential.
In the end, Monday’s announcement highlights the ever-shifting landscape of Major League Baseball rosters. For the Cardinals, the decision represents a calculated move to strengthen their pitching depth. For Ramos, it marks another turn in a young career already defined by rapid transitions. And for Kent, it opens the door to a new chapter in St. Louis, where he will aim to prove that the waiver claim was well worth the roster shuffle.
The Cardinals made another move
Only 10 days after his previous roster move, the young player now finds himself designated for assignment once again. At just 23 years old, he has already experienced the uncertainty that often comes with life on the fringe of a major league roster. Despite his youth, he has logged time at the highest level, appearing in 36 career big league games so far. His first taste of the majors came in 2024 with the Chicago White Sox, where he suited up for 32 contests during his debut season.
That rookie campaign offered both promise and growing pains. Over those 32 games, he posted a .202 batting average along with a .252 on-base percentage and a .333 slugging percentage. While the overall slash line reflected the challenges many young hitters face when adjusting to major league pitching, he did manage to leave the yard three times and drive in 11 runs.
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The flashes of power hinted at upside, even if consistency remained a work in progress. In 2025, his opportunities at the major league level were far more limited, as he appeared in just four games. The reduced playing time made it difficult for him to establish rhythm or build on the experience he gained during his rookie season.
Meanwhile, Kent is returning to a familiar place for the second time since the conclusion of the 2025 season. His journey over the past few months has been anything but straightforward. In December, he was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals, signaling that the organization saw potential value in bringing him into the fold. However, his stay did not last long. When St. Louis acquired left-hander Justin Bruihl, Kent was designated for assignment to clear roster space.
From there, he landed with the Texas Rangers, adding yet another chapter to an offseason filled with movement. Now, after being designated for assignment by Texas, he finds himself heading back to St. Louis. It has been a whirlwind stretch, marked by multiple transactions and a constant state of uncertainty. Such roster shuffling is common for players who still have minor league options or are viewed as depth pieces, but that doesn’t make the experience any less turbulent.
For Kent, who is 27 years old, the numbers at the major league level are still relatively modest. He has made 12 appearances in the big leagues, compiling a 4.58 ERA across 17 2/3 innings pitched. While that sample size is small, it reflects both the limited opportunities he has received and the competitive nature of carving out a permanent role on a pitching staff. In those outings, he has shown enough to intrigue teams looking for bullpen depth, even if he has yet to firmly establish himself as a reliable, everyday contributor.
The offseason has clearly been a roller coaster for both players. Being designated for assignment can be a jarring experience, especially when it happens multiple times in a short span. It often means a player is caught in the numbers game — not necessarily a reflection of talent, but rather of roster construction, organizational needs, and timing. For younger players in particular, it can serve as both a challenge and a reminder of how quickly circumstances can change in professional baseball.
With Spring Training now underway, many might assume that teams would settle into more stable roster configurations. However, that is rarely the case. The Cardinals, like many organizations, continue to evaluate their depth, test different combinations, and make adjustments as new opportunities arise. Even with camp in full swing, front offices remain active, scanning the waiver wire and making incremental moves that could pay dividends over the course of a long season.
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This latest transaction underscores that reality. While it may not generate headlines or dramatically alter the outlook of the roster, it reflects the organization’s ongoing effort to stockpile pitching depth. In today’s game, where injuries and workload management play significant roles, having additional arms available is critical. A seemingly minor acquisition in February or March can become invaluable by midseason when attrition inevitably sets in.
From a broader perspective, this move reinforces the idea that roster building is a continuous process rather than a one-time event. The Cardinals are clearly unwilling to stand pat, even with Spring Training in progress. Whether this proves to be a meaningful addition or simply another short-term stop in a player’s journey remains to be seen. Still, the logic is straightforward: you can never have too much pitching depth.
For Kent, the return to St. Louis represents another opportunity to make an impression. For the 23-year-old position player, being designated for assignment so soon after his previous move highlights the unpredictable nature of early-career development at the major league level. Both players now face pivotal stretches, hoping that stability and sustained opportunity are just around the corner.
In the end, while this transaction might seem minor in isolation, it speaks to the constant motion that defines roster management in Major League Baseball. For the Cardinals, it is another calculated move aimed at reinforcing organizational depth. For the players involved, it is yet another twist in what has already been an eventful offseason.
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