For the first time since 2011, the Yankees have made a pick in the Rule 5 draft as they plucked Cade Winquest from the St. Louis Cardinals.

The rules of the draft stipulate that the team must place him on their 26-man roster during the 2026 season or on the injured list, and if they don’t, he’s returned back to his original team.

It gives the Yankees flexibility since they would have until the start of the 2026 season to make that decision rather than during the offseason.

Winquest struck out 110 batters at the Double-A level with a 3.95 ERA, working primarily as a starting pitcher, but he could be an intruiging weapon for the Yankees in a relief role.

Cade Winquest Brings Flashy Velocity and Upside to the Yankees’ Bullpen

The Yankees very rarely make moves in the Rule 5 Draft, often

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