ORLANDO, Fla. — The New York Yankees did something on Wednesday that nobody saw coming. They made a Rule 5 draft selection. That might not sound like a big deal. But for this franchise, it was a seismic shift.
The last time the Yankees picked a player in the major league phase of this annual draft was 2011. That was Brad Meyers, a right-hander from Washington who never threw a single pitch in the big leagues for New York. He got hurt in spring training and was returned to the Nationals before the season ended.
Now, 14 years later, the Yankees broke their silence with a surprising choice.
A flamethrower from the Cardinals system
Cade Winquest was the name called at pick No. 30. The 25-year-old right-hander spent three years in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He never cracked their top 30 prospects list. He never pitched above Double-A.
But the Yankees see something special in his arm.
“He’s got big velocity,” Yankees assistant general manager Michael Fishman said Wednesday. “He’s somebody we’ve been following since the draft.”
Fishman revealed that the Yankees actually wanted Winquest back in 2022. They had just used a seventh-round pick on Cam Schlittler and hoped Winquest would fall to them in the eighth round. The Cardinals snatched him first.
Three years later, the Yankees finally got their man.
What makes Winquest intriguing for the Yankees
The numbers tell part of the story. Winquest posted a 3.99 ERA across 25 games between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield in 2025. He struck out 110 batters in 106 innings. His curveball generated a 46.2% whiff rate.
But here is the real kicker. His fastball has touched 100 mph.
That kind of arm strength is exactly what the Yankees need. They lost Devin Williams to the rival Mets earlier this winter. Williams signed a three-year deal worth $45 million after posting a disappointing 4.79 ERA in the Bronx.
Winquest is not a proven commodity. His pitch mix includes a mid-80s cutter, a high-70s slurve and a changeup around 90 mph. The fastball sits in the mid-90s but can spike when he lets it rip.
“He has characteristics that our pitching group is good at working with,” Fishman added.
A bullpen riddled with holes
The Yankees finished 2025 with a bullpen ERA of 4.37. That ranked 23rd in baseball. They allowed too many walks and gave up too many home runs at the wrong times.
The Yankees cupboard is looking bare. Luke Weaver, Mark Leiter Jr., Jonathan Loaisiga and Ian Hamilton all hit free agency. David Bednar remains as the closer after arriving at the trade deadline from Pittsburgh.
Winquest might be a long shot to fill that gap.
“We probably have more openings in the bullpen, so he’s probably coming into camp competing for a spot,” Fishman said. “But obviously, that length he can provide, he has that flexibility to be either a starter or reliever in the future.”
The Rule 5 gamble explained
The rules are strict. Winquest must stay on the Yankees’ 26-man roster for the entire 2026 season. If the team wants to send him to the minors, they must first place him on waivers. If he clears, they have to offer him back to the Cardinals for $50,000.
The Yankees paid $100,000 to select him. That is pocket change. The real cost is the roster spot.
Can a pitcher who has never faced Triple-A competition survive in the American League East?
The Yankees did not lose any players in the major league phase this year. They gave up three arms in the Triple-A phase. Adam Stone went to the Cubs. Sean Hermann landed with Seattle. Matt Turner joined the Mets.
Cardinals feel the sting
For St. Louis, this hurts. The Cardinals are in rebuild mode after trading Sonny Gray to Boston. They lost a young arm with upside for just $100,000.
Winquest had been optimistic about his future before the draft. He credited adjustments to his mechanics for his 2025 breakout after missing most of 2024 with a bulging disk in his back.
“When I got called up, I thought I belong up here for a reason,” Winquest said about his promotion to Springfield.
He will now have to prove he belongs at the highest level. No more easing into tougher competition. It is sink or swim.
A franchise history of Rule 5 struggles
The Yankees have a terrible track record with Rule 5 picks. The last Yankees selection to stick for more than a single season was Billy Parker in 1973. Since 2007, the franchise has lost 30 players in this draft while gaining almost nothing in return.
That changes now with Winquest. Maybe.
“We felt like he was kind of the right guy who is going to help us,” Fishman said. “Get him with our pitching department and make a few tweaks.”
Aaron Boone told reporters Wednesday that he expects internal options to emerge in the bullpen. He mentioned Brent Headrick as someone who could surprise.
But Winquest adds another body to the competition. His 100 mph fastball will turn heads in Tampa. His inexperience will raise eyebrows. Whether it pays off will not be known until the games count.
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