The St. Louis Cardinals have brought back a familiar arm, reuniting with 25-year-old pitcher Cade Winquest after his brief and uneventful stint with the New York Yankees. His return comes after being selected by New York in the Rule 5 Draft, one of Major League Baseball’s more unique roster-building mechanisms.
The Rule 5 Draft allows teams to select eligible players from other organizations who are not protected on their 40-man rosters. However, there is a significant catch: any player taken in this draft must remain on the selecting team’s active MLB roster for the entire season. If the team decides not to keep the player, he must be offered back to his original organization. This rule often limits how frequently players stick with their new teams, as it can be difficult to justify keeping an unproven player at the major league level for a full year.
That was ultimately the case for Winquest. The Yankees selected his contract on December 10 during the offseason, marking their first Rule 5 Draft pick in over a decade. Interestingly, New York had previously shown interest in Winquest during the 2022 MLB Draft, though he ended up joining the Cardinals at that time. Their decision to select him later through the Rule 5 process reflected a renewed belief in his potential.
Winquest remained with the Yankees throughout spring training, where he was given opportunities to prove himself. However, his performance did not meet expectations. Over 10 innings, he allowed 13 hits and eight earned runs, resulting in a rough showing. He also surrendered three home runs, which was somewhat surprising given that he had not typically been prone to giving up long balls earlier in his career. Control issues, including walks, continued to be an area of concern as well.
Despite keeping him in camp, the Yankees never gave Winquest a chance to appear in a regular-season game. As roster decisions became more pressing, the team ultimately designated him for assignment earlier in the month. This move initiated the process that led to his return to St. Louis, as required under Rule 5 guidelines.
Once he cleared waivers, Winquest was officially returned to the Cardinals. Reports indicate that he has been assigned to Triple-A, where he will resume his development within the organization that originally signed him. This transition allows the Cardinals to place him in a more suitable environment, where he can work on refining his command and regaining consistency on the mound.
While the move may not generate major headlines, it does provide the Cardinals with additional pitching depth. Given that they never intended to part with Winquest permanently, his return is a low-risk boost to their system. Depth is especially valuable for a team in the midst of a rebuilding phase, where evaluating and developing talent is a top priority.
Looking ahead, Winquest will have an opportunity to compete for a future role with the Cardinals. If he can make the necessary adjustments and improve his performance, there is a realistic chance he could reach the major league roster in the coming seasons.
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