PETERSBURG, Fla. — Yankees Part Ways with Cade Winquest

The Yankees are understandably frustrated after releasing Cade Winquest on Friday without having the chance to see him pitch in a regular season game.

Despite breaking camp with the team as a Rule 5 pick and being close to making his MLB debut, Winquest was designated for assignment to make space for Luis Gil, who was set to start against the Rays.

“We had to make a decision, and in the end, he hadn’t even pitched yet this year,” general manager Brian Cashman remarked before the Yankees’ 5-3 loss to the Rays. “It didn’t go how we hoped, but he’s genuinely talented. I appreciate the process we followed when selecting him. Still, it would have been great to see him in action and allow for some development, although that’s challenging when we’re also aiming to compete.”

Cashman continued, “It didn’t unfold as we wanted. We believe he has potential for improvement; he just needs time.”

If Winquest clears waivers, the Yankees would need to offer him to the Cardinals for $50,000—half of what they invested in choosing him during December’s Rule 5 draft.

Should the Cardinals decline to take him back, the Yankees could retain him in the minors.

Neither Cashman nor manager Aaron Boone had considered putting Winquest on the roster as the season began. This is evident from the first 12 games, where they felt uneasy using him, despite several tight matches. Left-handed pitcher Brent Headrick has featured in eight of those games, and five other relief pitchers have appeared in six games, but the breaks have lightened the workload somewhat.

Boone expressed disappointment about the missed opportunities, stating, “There were probably four or five games where he wasn’t involved, which was a letdown. We really valued him, and we still think he has a bright future. It’s tough because we invested in him last winter, and we still believe he can be a top pitcher.”

Winquest, at 25, has yet to pitch above Double-A and didn’t have a standout spring, as Boone noted. However, “many knowledgeable people saw potential in him,” he added, though realizing it may not work out for the Yankees.

This incident underscores the reasons why the Yankees seldom engage in the Rule 5 draft. Balancing player development with competitiveness in a full-season roster is no simple task.

“It’s definitely more complicated, but it’s not impossible,” Cashman reflected.

In other news, Clark Schmidt threw 10 fastballs from the mound for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last July.

The right-handed pitcher shared he was “pleasantly surprised” by how normal it felt, marking a significant step in his recovery, with hopes of returning to the Yankees by the latter half of the season.

“It was incredible,” Schmidt said, noting his aim to face batters by June. “I’m in a high-volume phase, but I don’t feel stressed. It’s just the right amount to manage.”

Carlos Rodon, dealing with elbow and hamstring issues, is expected to take on hitters early next week.

The Yankees faced challenges in their attempts to overturn calls using the automatic ball-strike system, ultimately losing both appeals by the fifth inning. Boone commented, “Tonight wasn’t great,” summing up a tough week for the team.