The New York Yankees made a notable move during the Rule 5 draft at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida, by selecting right-hander Cade Winquest, marking their first selection in this draft since 2011. Winquest, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound pitcher, previously played at Texas-Arlington and has spent three seasons in the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league system after being drafted in the eighth round of the 2022 MLB draft.
Yankees assistant general manager Michael Fishman highlighted their long-standing interest in Winquest, expressing confidence in his potential: “Cade’s been somebody we’ve been following since the draft. He was somebody we were targeting back in 2022.” Fishman noted Winquest’s impressive velocity, which can reach 100 mph, and emphasized that he brings characteristics that align well with the Yankees’ pitching philosophy.
The selection presents an opportunity for Winquest to compete for a spot in a bullpen that has open positions, according to Fishman. However, Winquest faces challenges due to his limited experience, as he has to remain on the Yankees’ active roster or injured list for the entirety of the 2026 season to avoid being offered back to the Cardinals. At 26 years old, he has not pitched beyond Double-A and his career statistics include an 8-16 record and a 4.19 ERA over 58 games.
Last season, Winquest demonstrated promising signs, finishing with a combined 5-7 record and a 3.99 ERA across two levels. His performance included a solid stretch where he went 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA in eight Double-A starts after struggling early in the season.
As part of the Rule 5 draft process, the Yankees will pay $100,000 for Winquest, with the possibility of receiving back $50,000 should they not retain him through the required timeframe. Fishman expressed optimism about the potential for Winquest to improve under the Yankees’ coaching staff, indicating that they plan to make adjustments to harness his abilities.
In addition to Winquest, the Yankees also selected Brewers right-hander Hansel Rincon and Athletics catcher Abrahamn Gutierrez in the Triple-A phase of the draft. While they lost two prospects in this phase, the Yankees managed to keep their key players intact during the Major League portion of the Rule 5 draft, indicating a strategic approach as they prepare for the upcoming season.