Twins Add Zak Kent to Bullpen Mix with Waiver Claim

[Cody Christie]

The Minnesota Twins announced on Thursday that they have claimed right-handed reliever Zak Kent off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals after he was designated for assignment earlier this week. In a corresponding move, Pablo López was transferred to the 60-day injured list following the internal brace procedure that will sideline him for the entirety of the 2026 season.

Kent is now on his third organization since the start of spring training and his fourth of the offseason after previously bouncing between the Cleveland Guardians, Texas Rangers, and back to St. Louis before landing with Minnesota. He is clearly viewed as a fringe player for the 40-man roster, but the Twins have a bullpen need, and Kent has one minor league option remaining.

The 28-year-old made his big league debut during the 2025 season with Cleveland, logging 17 2/3 innings with a 4.58 ERA to go along with a 21.1 K% and a 10.5 BB%. He spent the bulk of the year at Triple-A, where he posted a 2.84 ERA and struck out an impressive 31.4% of opposing hitters despite a disappointing 13.2 BB%.

Kent does not overpower hitters with velocity as his four-seamer averaged 93.1 miles per hour last season, but his mid-80s slider and low-80s curveball helped generate plenty of swings and misses at the upper levels of the minors. Across parts of four Triple-A seasons, he owns a 3.74 ERA with a 26 K% and a 12 BB%.

Kent is entering what will be his final minor league option year after being granted a fourth option due to injury history and developmental timeline. He now becomes another name in what is shaping up to be a wide-open bullpen competition that currently has Cole Sands, Anthony Banda, Taylor Rogers, and Justin Topa penciled into roles. Other relief options include Liam Hendriks, Eric Orze, and Andrew Chafin. There was a glut of left-handed relievers, so adding a righty to the mix could help to balance the roster.

With López out for the season, Minnesota will need to find value on the margins, and Kent represents the type of low-risk addition that could pay dividends over the course of a long season. If his swing and miss stuff translates consistently at the big league level, the Twins may have quietly added a bullpen arm capable of providing meaningful innings in 2026.

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[Vanimal46]

This changes everything 

[Dman]

We sure have a lot of these types of guys right now.  I guess they can see if he can compete for a spot or try and move him through waivers at the end of spring training and see if he makes it through.

[AceWrigley]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

We sure have a lot of these types of guys right now.  I guess they can see if he can compete for a spot or try and move him through waivers at the end of spring training and see if he makes it through.

Kent has one option remaining.

[awmonahan]

Pray for LaTroy Hawkins. 

[Patzky]

7 hours ago, Dman said:

We sure have a lot of these types of guys right now.  I guess they can see if he can compete for a spot or try and move him through waivers at the end of spring training and see if he makes it through.

Travis Adams is looking eminently shakeable so far. Without Genesis Cabrera to fall back on, this signing makes perfect sense 

[thelanges5]

Based on contracts and what I've seen in ST so far and hope (not a plan) Hendriks flashes some of his former closer performance.

Sands, Topa, Orze, Rogers, Banda, Altavilla and Hendriks

Battle for the last spot - Kent, Raya, Chafin, Fundy

[Jack Pine]

Another lottery ticket?

[twinsfansd]

He could be an up and down guy just around for emergency callups for a day or 2 when the bullpen needs a fresh arm. Saves them from needing to activate a more valuable piece and burning one of their options.

I don't see him as a serious contender for any extended time in the major league bullpen

 

[Dman]

7 hours ago, AceWrigley said:

Kent has one option remaining.

Yeah I saw that but he already was sacrificed and put on waivers by another team. The Twins might need room for Hendricks or Chafin or someone else who performs better.  Unless of course Kent performs really well then he would earn that spot. Given someone else just gave up on him though that does not appear a sure thing.

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, Jack Pine said:

Another lottery ticket?

Keep playing the same numbers in case l stop and they win....

[Jacksson]

On the plus side, Lopez will come off of the 60 Day DL, just after the 2026 World Series and remain non-injured throught the off season but will then probably once again be designated as being injured for the start of the 2027 Spring Training.

Stupid, antiquated MLB rule (along with a host of others) in need of review & updating.

[ashbury]

The Cardinals have already claimed him twice this off-season.  What are the odds Kent passes through waivers if the Twins try?

[Parfigliano]

19 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

This changes everything 

For better or for worse?

[Parfigliano]

7 hours ago, Patzky said:

Keep playing the same numbers in case l stop and they win....

Me too.

[USAFChief]

20 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

For better or for worse?

Yes

[Fred]

On 2/27/2026 at 8:46 AM, Jack Pine said:

Another lottery ticket?

$2.00 scratch off

[JADBP]

On 2/26/2026 at 8:09 PM, Vanimal46 said:

This changes everything 

You literally made me burst out laughing!  Thanks!!

[Doctor Wu]

Very early days, but his first outing was encouraging. One inning pitched, gave up a hit, and struck out two batters.  More of that, please!

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

This is what contention looks like.