ORLANDO – The Yankees lastly added an exterior piece to their lively roster on Wednesday, although it was solely by way of uncommon use of a choose within the main league part of the Rule 5 Draft.
The choice was Cade Winquest, a right-handed pitcher from the Cardinals’ group.
Assistant normal supervisor Michael Fishman mentioned that the Yankees have appreciated Winquest because the 2022 MLB Draft. They hoped to choose him that 12 months after utilizing a seventh-round choice on Cam Schlittler, however the Cardinals chosen the College of Texas at Arlington product earlier than he fell to the Yankees within the eighth spherical.
“He’s got big velocity,” Fishman mentioned, including that Winquest possesses “characteristics that our pitching group is good at working with.”
Cade Winquest has hit 100 MPH earlier than and was primarily a beginning pitcher in AA this previous season.
He posted a 3.95 ERA and three.57 FIP in that position, might be an intruiging RP choice for the #Yankees.pic.twitter.com/uocvibaCPs
Fishman declined to specify what these traits are, however Winquest has touched 100 mph on the radar gun, and his curveball yielded a 46.2 Whiff% final season. The 25-year-old additionally demonstrated strong command whereas recording a 3.99 ERA over 25 video games (23 begins) between Excessive-A and Double-A.
Winquest has solely pitched in eight video games at Double-A — he had a 3.19 ERA there — so it received’t be straightforward for him to crack the Yankees’ huge league roster.
Nonetheless, the membership has a number of holes in its bullpen. Fishman is hoping that Winquest can compete for a kind of vacancies with just a few tweaks and a robust exhibiting this spring.
“We probably have more openings in the bullpen, so he’s probably coming into camp competing for a spot in the bullpen,” Fishman mentioned. “But obviously, that length he can provide, he has that flexibility to be either a starter or reliever in the future.”
The New York Yankees choose Cade Winquest (from STL) with the eleventh choose within the Rule 5 draft
Winquest posted a 3.99 ERA and three.57 FIP in 2025 along with his command metrics being his standout device. His curveball was glorious this season with a 46.2 Whiff% pic.twitter.com/bfVEwI6Fsh
As a variety within the main league portion of the Rule 5 Draft, Winquest should stay on the Yankees’ 26-man roster all season or be positioned on waivers. If he clears waivers, he should then be provided again to St. Louis for $50,000. He can solely be despatched to the minors if the Cardinals don’t take him again.
It’s been some time because the Yankees have discovered themselves in such a place, as that they had not made a significant league Rule 5 choose since 2011.
“We identify candidates each year, and in the past, it hasn’t really lined up to the right player at the right time,” Fishman mentioned.
This time, the celebrities did align, because the Yankees appreciated Winquest, wanted bullpen depth, and had open house on their 40-man roster.
Usually, the Yankees lose a handful of pitchers within the main league portion of the draft. Nonetheless, the workforce didn’t undergo any departures in that part this 12 months.
The Yankees did lose RHP Adam Stone (first spherical, Cubs), RHP Sean Hermann (second spherical, Mariners) and LHP Matt Turner (third spherical, Mets) within the Triple-A part. In addition they took RHP Hansel Rincon (first spherical, Brewers) and C Abrahan Gutierrez (second spherical, Athletics) within the Triple-A part.
One other Bullpen Choice
Talking of the bullpen, Aaron Boone mentioned Wednesday that he believes some inside choices will emerge this spring. He particularly mentioned, “I expect a lot from” Brent Headrick.
The lefty was claimed off waivers from the Twins final February and impressed at occasions, however he additionally battled accidents and noticed his fastball velocity fluctuate. Headrick had a 3.13 ERA over 23 huge league innings.
Whereas the Yankees are hoping to fill some bullpen spots with incumbent choices — Jake Fowl is one other candidate — they might be clever so as to add a longtime reliever to a gaggle that features nearer David Bednar, setup males Fernando Cruz and Camilo Doval, and side-arming left-hander Tim Hill.
Rice vs. Left
Boone additionally mentioned that he expects left-handed first baseman Ben Rice “to play a lot” vs. southpaws subsequent season. The Yankees restricted such matchups in 2025, however the sweet-swinging Rice had a decent .752 OPS in opposition to lefties over 119 plate appearances.
Search for that pattern dimension to develop in 2026.
Cabrera Progressing
Lastly, Boone mentioned that Oswaldo Cabrera is in Tampa and doing properly. The affable utilityman’s 2025 marketing campaign ended with a ugly ankle fracture in Could, however Cabrera began performing some mild baseball actions towards the tip of the common season and throughout the postseason.
Boone mentioned Cabrera will begin ramping up his velocity coaching and intensifying his defensive work within the subsequent few weeks.
