The Cardinals are now back in the Zak Kent business a little more than a month after designating him for assignment and losing his rights to the Texas Rangers in January.
Kent, 27, was originally claimed by St. Louis from Cleveland in early December. He has a modest big-league pedigree after appearing in 12 games for the Guardians last season, pitching 17.2 innings and posting a 4.58 ERA.
To make room for Kent’s return, the Cardinals have designated another short-lived member of the roster for assignment, as infielder Bryan Ramos is on the chopping block after the Cardinals claimed him on Feb. 6.
Ramos was seemingly set to compete for a role as a right-handed hitting complement to Nolan Gorman at third base, but his designation for assignment could land him in another organization if he is claimed off waivers. Of course, there’s a chance he goes unclaimed and remains with St. Louis, just without the status on the 40-man roster.
The Orioles were likely trying to create that exact scenario for themselves when the Cardinals jumped in and claimed Ramos a couple of weeks ago. Baltimore traded cash to the White Sox in exchange for Ramos and almost immediately DFA’d him, but the Cardinals’ claim prevented the Orioles from sneaking him through waivers while retaining his rights.
We’ll see if Baltimore—or another team—keeps the musical chairs going with Ramos this time around as he seems to be one of those players in which multiple teams take interest but without any of those teams preferring to house him on their 40-man roster.
This makes some sense given Ramos’ meager MLB production coupled with an intriguing profile should the 23-year-old find the development in the minors that he needs, but it also makes for some odd headlines given the easy come, easy go nature of these bottom-of-the-roster acquisitions this time of year.