The St. Louis Cardinals may soon receive an unexpected boost to their pitching depth, as a familiar arm could be returning to the organization. Recent developments suggest that former Cardinals prospect Cade Winquest might find his way back to St. Louis after a brief stint with the New York Yankees.
Winquest was originally selected by the Yankees during the Major League phase of the 2025 Rule 5 Draft, a process that allows teams to pick up certain unprotected players from other organizations. However, his time with New York has already taken a turn, as the Yankees designated him for assignment on Thursday, according to a report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Despite earning a spot on the roster out of Spring Training, Winquest never made his Major League debut with the team.
The Rule 5 Draft comes with specific conditions. When a player is selected in its Major League phase, the acquiring team must pay $100,000 to the player’s original club and keep the player on the active roster for the entire season. If the team decides to remove the player from the roster, they cannot simply send him to the minors. Instead, the player must pass through waivers, and if unclaimed, he must be offered back to his former team at a reduced cost. In this case, since the Yankees designated Winquest for assignment, other teams now have an opportunity to claim him. If no team does so, he would likely be returned to the Cardinals.
For St. Louis, this situation could present a valuable opportunity. The team has been in need of additional pitching depth, and bringing back a familiar player like Winquest could help address that need. Although he has yet to appear in a Major League game, the fact that he made the Yankees’ roster out of Spring Training suggests that he has potential. New York, a team with one of the stronger bullpens in the league, clearly saw enough promise in him to give him a shot.
Winquest’s professional experience has primarily come at the minor league level. He reached Double-A during the 2025 season, marking the highest level he has played so far. Over the course of that season, he posted a 3.99 ERA across 25 appearances, including 23 starts. While those numbers may not be dominant, they indicate solid performance and room for growth.
During Spring Training with the Yankees, Winquest was used in a relief role, making nine appearances and allowing eight runs. While those results were less impressive, they did not prevent him from initially making the roster. His ability to adapt to different roles could be beneficial if he returns to the Cardinals.
Adding to the situation, St. Louis recently placed pitcher Packy Naughton on the minor league injured list, further highlighting the team’s need for depth on the mound. If Winquest clears waivers and becomes available to return, the Cardinals would have little reason not to bring him back into the fold.
Overall, while his departure to New York was brief, Winquest’s potential return could quietly strengthen the Cardinals’ pitching staff as they look to navigate the challenges of the season.
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