The New York Yankees didn’t have the sort of explosive offseason that fans were hoping for, but it’s clear that this roster is still in very good shape. With that in mind, manager Aaron Boone has had his work cut out for him over the past few days as he begins to put together his initial 26-man Opening Day roster.
Throughout Spring Training, one guy who has had a lot of eyeballs on him is pitcher Cade Winquest. After getting selected in the Rule 5 Draft earlier this offseason, Winquest has made a hard charge for a spot on the Opening Day roster, and while nothing is set in stone, Boone’s latest comments seem to indicate that he will begin the year in the majors.
Aaron Boone Dishes on Cade Winquest’s Opening Day Roster Hopes
Winquest was initially selected in the eighth round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, and he gradually worked his way up through their farm system. In 2025, he split time at High-A and Double-A, posting a 5-7 record with a 3.99 ERA and 110 strikeouts over 106 innings of work.
New York nabbed Winquest in the Rule 5 Draft, meaning that he needs to stick around on the team’s major-league roster for the entire season. If he doesn’t, the Yankees will offer Winquest back to the Cardinals for half of his $100,000 selection price. Considering how the Yanks selected Winquest in the first place, it’s clear they feel he can stick around in the majors for the entire year.
Throughout Spring Training, Winquest has been used primarily in a bullpen role, rather than a starter, and his production has been mixed. While he’s shown upside, Winquest has posted an ugly 6.48 ERA over 8.1 innings of work. Despite that, it seems like Boone is intending on having Winquest begin the year in the majors.
“We feel like he’s going to be a good pitcher,” Boone said of Winquest. “I think he’s shown enough to keep himself in that mix for us and to warrant us taking him. We’ll see in the end which way we go.”
Does Cade Winquest Deserve a Spot on the Yankees’ Opening Day Roster?
GettyIt sounds like Cade Winquest has a good shot at making the Yankees’ Opening Day roster
Anytime you select a player in the Rule 5 Draft, you take on a bit of risk if they are unable to earn a spot on the major-league roster. Winquest hasn’t exactly been lights out for the Yankees, but they feel confident about his ability to hold his own in the majors, even when accounting for his struggles during Spring Training.
New York will likely at least give Winquest a shot to stick around in the majors to begin the year, but if he struggles, there’s no guarantee he will spend the year with the Yanks. Considering how he’s set to turn 26 years old in April, Winquest is going to have to find his way in the majors at some point in the near future, so what better time to do it than in 2026 with the Yankees?
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