Washington Nationals Claim Giants Pitcher, DFA Zak Kent

With the dust settled from the postseason less than one day ago, the first roster move of the Washington Nationals' offseason has officially materialized via waiver claim.

The team announced on Thursday that they have claimed right handed pitcher Braxton Roxby off outright waivers from the San Francisco Giants.

Roxby appeared in four games at the end of the 2026 regular season. Three of his outings ended in scoreless appearances and combining to allow just two hits across 3.1 innings. His appearance against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 1 derailed his season stats after allowing four hits and two earned runs across just one inning. Roxby ended his first professional season with a 3.38 ERA and 1.50 WHIP, holding opponents to a .286 batting average while tossing three strikeouts.

The 27 year old began his MLB career with the Cincinnati Reds after inking a minor league contract as an undrafted free agent in June 2020, staying within the team's farm system through the 2024 season. Then the San Francisco Giants pulled the trigger on a prospect trade in Jan. 2025 that sent Roxby to Triple A Sacramento to begin the season, posting a 4-3 record with a 3.78 ERA and 1.10 WHIP while holding opponents to a .199 batting average. He also tossed 60 strikeouts and allowed just 45 hits in the minors before getting a shot in the MLB to end the regular season.

To make room for Roxby, the team announced that right handed pitcher Zak Kent has been designated for assignment.

The 28 year old ended his lone season with the organization with a 5.68 ERA and 1.42 WHIP, tossing ten strikeouts while allowing 15 hits across 12.2 innings. All eight runs that Kent allowed as a National came across just three appearances and 5.2 innings, in addition to consecutive hitless innings tossed back in late June.

The team acquired Kent back in May after claiming him off waivers from the Minnesota Twins, immediately optioning him down to Triple A Rochester. Kent also began his MLB career with the Cleveland Guardians in 2025 where he struggled across his 12 appearances, though it was where the Virginia native recorded his first and only MLB win to date in his career.

After leaning on the waiver wire through the 2026 season, Thursday's move marks the first of what could be a flurry of moves as teams finalize their offseason moves. The Nationals, meanwhile, have no eligible free agents or club/player options looming with a handful of arbitration eligible players to resolve.