Nationals Claim Braxton Roxby, Designate Zak Kent for Assignment

Washington adds an optionable arm to an open bullpen

Braxton Roxby’s remaining minor league options give Washington room to evaluate him as the Nationals reshape a bullpen with several jobs open. The club claimed the right-hander off waivers from San Francisco on Thursday and designated fellow righty Zak Kent for assignment, making a roster move that shifts the immediate opportunity from one pitcher to another.

That distinction matters in a bullpen competition. A pitcher with options can be sent to the minors without first passing through waivers, giving a club more ways to manage roster space as it assesses performance and fit. Options don’t guarantee a player a place on the 40-man roster, though, and Roxby’s standing remains uncertain beyond the near term.

Roxby brings options and a three-pitch mix

Roxby, who turns 28 next spring, made his major league debut with the Giants in 2026. In 5 1/3 innings, he allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three. That’s a small sample, too small to establish much about his major league level, but it gives Washington a first look at how his pitches have played against big league hitters.

He joined San Francisco from the Reds organization in the 2025 Taylor Rogers trade. Most of his 2026 season came with Triple-A Sacramento, where he recorded a 3.78 ERA, struck out 23.1% of batters and walked 10%. His ground-ball rate was 38.9%. Those figures describe a pitcher with some ability to miss bats, alongside a walk rate that leaves room for improvement; the ground-ball rate adds another piece of context, rather than a clear verdict on his fit.

Roxby uses a four-seamer, sinker and slider. The slider was his most-used pitch in the minors in 2025 and 2026 and during his brief major league stint, suggesting it’s central to how he approaches hitters. A three-pitch mix can give a reliever options for changing looks, but pitch selection alone doesn’t settle whether he can consistently get major league outs. If you’re watching his bid for a roster spot, command and results over a longer stretch will tell more than those five-plus innings.

Because Roxby first reached the majors late in 2026, he has all three minor league option years available. That gives Washington room to keep evaluating him across levels. And this is the part most people overlook: roster flexibility can preserve a pitcher’s opportunity, but it can also mean he’s sent down when the club needs space.

His place on Washington’s 40-man roster isn’t assured through the offseason. If he remains with the club into spring training, he’ll have a chance to compete for a bullpen job in 2027. A chance, not a promise.

Kent faces a waiver decision

Kent, who turns 29 in February, spent 2026 between the Nationals and Twins organizations after moving among teams on waivers during much of the 2025–26 offseason. He logged 16 1/3 major league innings and posted a 5.51 ERA. His minor league results varied: he pitched well in a short stint with the Twins’ Triple-A team but had more modest numbers with Washington’s Rochester affiliate.

Across two major league seasons, Kent has a 5.03 ERA in 34 innings. He had a stronger Triple-A campaign with the Rangers’ Round Rock affiliate in 2025, providing evidence of better results at that level. Still, his major league record is limited, and the available figures don’t explain how much of the difference reflects command, role or the quality of the opposition.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander’s four-seamer averages 92.8 mph; he also throws a slider, curveball and occasional sinker. That’s a broader mix than Roxby’s three listed pitches, but a larger repertoire doesn’t automatically translate into more dependable results. For Kent, the immediate question is what another team—or Washington, if he clears waivers—would be willing to offer him.

Options shape the next steps

Kent will be out of minor league options next season, which could make it easier for him to pass through waivers: a club claiming him would have fewer chances to move him between the majors and minors without exposing him again. If he clears, he can elect free agency and seek a minor league contract with a spring training invitation.

Here’s the thing: the transaction gives Washington a flexible arm to assess while Kent’s next step depends on how the waiver process unfolds. Roxby’s options may help him stay in the organization as the Nationals sort through a wide-open bullpen, but they don’t answer whether his stuff will hold up in a sustained major league role. That’s the central test as camp approaches.