ORLANDO – The Yankees finally added an external piece to their active roster on Wednesday, though it was only via rare use of a pick in the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft.
The selection was Cade Winquest, a right-handed pitcher from the Cardinals’ organization.
Assistant general manager Michael Fishman said that the Yankees have liked Winquest since the 2022 MLB Draft. They hoped to pick him that year after using a seventh-round selection on Cam Schlittler, but the Cardinals selected the University of Texas at Arlington product before he fell to the Yankees in the eighth round.
“He’s got big velocity,” Fishman said, adding that Winquest possesses “characteristics that our pitching group is good at working with.”
Cade Winquest has hit 100 MPH before and was primarily a starting pitcher in AA this past season.
He posted a 3.95 ERA and 3.57 FIP in that role, could be an intruiging RP option for the #Yankees.pic.twitter.com/uocvibaCPs
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) December 10, 2025
Fishman declined to specify what those characteristics are, but Winquest has touched 100 mph on the radar gun, and his curveball yielded a 46.2 Whiff% last season. The 25-year-old also demonstrated solid command while recording a 3.99 ERA over 25 games (23 starts) between High-A and Double-A.
Winquest has only pitched in eight games at Double-A — he had a 3.19 ERA there — so it won’t be easy for him to crack the Yankees’ big league roster.
However, the club has several holes in its bullpen. Fishman is hoping that Winquest can compete for one of those vacancies with a few tweaks and a strong showing 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 said. “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 select Cade Winquest (from STL) with the 11th pick in the Rule 5 draft
Winquest posted a 3.99 ERA and 3.57 FIP in 2025 with his command metrics being his standout tool. His curveball was excellent this season with a 46.2 Whiff% pic.twitter.com/bfVEwI6Fsh
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) December 10, 2025
As a selection in the major league portion of the Rule 5 Draft, Winquest must remain on the Yankees’ 26-man roster all season or be placed on waivers. If he clears waivers, he must then be offered back to St. Louis for $50,000. He can only be sent to the minors if the Cardinals don’t take him back.
It’s been a while since the Yankees have found themselves in such a position, as they had not made a major league Rule 5 pick 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 said.
This time, the stars did align, as the Yankees liked Winquest, needed bullpen depth, and had open space on their 40-man roster.
Typically, the Yankees lose a handful of pitchers in the major league portion of the draft. However, the team didn’t suffer any departures in that phase this year.
The Yankees did lose RHP Adam Stone (first round, Cubs), RHP Sean Hermann (second round, Mariners) and LHP Matt Turner (third round, Mets) in the Triple-A phase. They also took RHP Hansel Rincon (first round, Brewers) and C Abrahan Gutierrez (second round, Athletics) in the Triple-A phase.
Another Bullpen Option
Speaking of the bullpen, Aaron Boone said Wednesday that he believes some internal options will emerge this spring. He specifically said, “I expect a lot from” Brent Headrick.
The lefty was claimed off waivers from the Twins last February and impressed at times, but he also battled injuries and saw his fastball velocity fluctuate. Headrick had a 3.13 ERA over 23 big league innings.
While the Yankees are hoping to fill some bullpen spots with incumbent options — Jake Bird is another candidate — they would be wise to add an established reliever to a group that includes closer David Bednar, setup men Fernando Cruz and Camilo Doval, and side-arming left-hander Tim Hill.
Rice vs. Left
Boone also said that he expects left-handed first baseman Ben Rice “to play a lot” vs. southpaws next season. The Yankees limited such matchups in 2025, but the sweet-swinging Rice had a respectable .752 OPS against lefties over 119 plate appearances.
Look for that sample size to grow in 2026.
Cabrera Progressing
Finally, Boone said that Oswaldo Cabrera is in Tampa and doing well. The affable utilityman’s 2025 campaign ended with a gruesome ankle fracture in May, but Cabrera started doing some light baseball activities toward the end of the regular season and during the postseason.
Boone said Cabrera will start ramping up his speed training and intensifying his defensive work in the next few weeks.
