Rangers Designate Zak Kent For Assignment, Spring Training Shakeup

The Texas Rangers designated right-hander Zak Kent for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot for left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Montgomery’s one-year deal became official, and suddenly Kent’s back on the waiver wire as Texas shuffles its pitching staff again.

Kent’s journey just highlights how unpredictable bullpen depth can be in modern MLB. Young arms like his bounce between affiliates and big-league stints while teams chase affordable, flexible pitchers.

Rangers Clear 40-Man Roster for Montgomery Signing

The Rangers announced Zak Kent’s DFA while finalizing Jordan Montgomery’s one-year contract. Now Texas gets a veteran lefty in what’s shaping up to be a rotation-heavy season.

Clearing a 40-man roster slot is routine, but it’s still a big deal. It gives Montgomery a shot at a stable role, and Texas can keep tinkering with bullpen depth for another playoff push. Kent’s removal opens a door for other pitchers to prove themselves this spring and early in 2026.

What the Kent DFA means for the Rangers

Kent, now 27, came up through the Rangers’ system after they drafted him in the ninth round back in 2019. He’s bounced around on waivers this offseason, with Texas and a few other teams trying to figure out if he fits their plans.

Getting DFA’d takes him off the 40-man, but it doesn’t end his career. Now he heads back to waivers, maybe a trade, or possibly a new option-year scenario if things break his way.

In 2025, Kent debuted in MLB with the Guardians. He logged 17 2/3 innings, posting a 4.58 ERA, a 21.1% strikeout rate, and a 10.5% walk rate.

Most of his best work came at Triple-A Columbus, where he put up a 2.84 ERA and a strong 31.4% strikeout rate, though his 13.2% walk rate raised some eyebrows. His arsenal mixes a 93.1 mph four-seamer, an 85.7 mph slider, and an 81.3 mph curveball—enough to get scouts interested, even if the command still wobbles at times.

Since last season ended, Kent’s been on the move—first the Guardians, then the Cardinals, then the Rangers. With this latest DFA, he’s almost certain to hit waivers again. If nobody claims him, Texas might try to trade him within five days or look at other roster moves.

He’s out of minor-league options, but there’s talk he could get a rare fourth option year because of missed time or early usage. That could buy him a little more runway in the minors if a team’s willing to wait.

Backstory and Career Arc

Kent’s career path is a bit of a winding road. The Rangers took him in 2019, and he spent his early years developing in their system through 2023.

He landed in Cleveland just before the 2024 season, and his real major-league shot came in 2025. In the bigs, his sample size was small, but his minor-league numbers—especially the strikeouts—hinted at real upside if he could just harness his stuff.

His stat line paints a picture of a pitcher with decent upside if he can sharpen his control and command his breaking stuff. With a mid-90s fastball, a solid slider, and a usable curve, he’s a plausible bullpen or swing-man candidate for any team willing to give him a little time and patience.

Roster Mechanics: Minor-League Options and the Five-Day Window

From a roster-management angle, Kent’s DFA feels like a move for space as much as it is about performance. Teams have to weigh the risk of losing a player on waivers against the upside of keeping him around or maybe working out a trade.

• The five-day waiver window gives the Rangers a little breathing room. They can see if anyone claims Kent or if there’s actually a trade to be made.
• He’s already used up his standard three minor-league option years. There’s been talk about a possible fourth option year, depending on missed time or how early he was used.
• Kent’s next step really depends on whether he clears waivers, gets picked up for another team’s 40-man roster, or ends up designated again as teams shuffle bullpen depth early in the season.

 
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