Yankees News Dump: Rule 5 Surprise, MILB Signings, Amed Rosario Returns, Bullpen Trade Target & a Potential Yankees Reunion—Everything You Missed

Yankees Make Rare Rule 5 Draft Selection

The Yankees made a rare move in the Rule 5 Draft this past week, selecting St. Louis Cardinals RHP Cade Winquest, marking their first Rule 5 selection since 2011.

Winquest split the 2025 season between High-A and Double-A in the Cardinals’ system, posting a 3.99 ERA across 106 innings with 110 strikeouts. While those surface numbers may look fairly average, he truly stood out after his promotion to Double-A, where he logged a 3.19 ERA in 42.1 innings with 42 strikeouts.

Cade is a pitcher the Yankees reportedly had interest in during the 2022 MLB Draft, targeting him in the 7th round before opting for Cam Schlittler. The Yankees hoped Winquest would fall to the 8th round, but the Cardinals selected him before they had another opportunity.

Scouting Grades (20–80 Scale, 50 = Average)

• Curveball: 60

• Fastball: 50

• Slider: 50

• Cutter: 45

• Control: 45

• Overall Grade: 40

As the grades suggest, Winquest’s curveball is his calling card. Opponents hit just .143 against it this season, with a 46% swing-and-miss rate. He also features a mid-to-upper-90s fastball that can touch 100 MPH, though it has graded as more average due to inconsistent shape and command despite the velocity.

While Winquest currently profiles more as a reliever than a starter, given that he has only one true above-average pitch and ongoing control concerns, the Yankees have had consistent success developing similar profiles into effective bullpen arms under Matt Blake (Jake Cousins, Luke Weaver, Clay Holmes, among others).

Because Rule 5 rules require Winquest to remain on the 26-man roster for the entire season or be returned to the Cardinals, there’s a strong chance he breaks camp with the Yankees out of Spring Training. If so, the hope is that Blake can once again work his developmental magic.

Yankees Sign RP Drake Fellows & 1B Ernesto Martinez to MiLB Contracts

The Yankees also made two minor moves this past week, signing RHP Drake Fellows and 1B Ernesto Martinez to minor league contracts.

Fellows is a tall right-hander whose primary weapon is his slider, which generated an impressive 52% whiff rate in Triple-A last season. While his fastball velocity is underwhelming for a reliever, topping out around 92 MPH, he profiles similarly to Brent Headrick, whom the Yankees signed to a minor league deal last offseason and successfully helped add several ticks of velocity.

Martinez, a 6-foot-6 first baseman, offers an intriguing profile that combines massive raw size with a disciplined approach at the plate, traits the Yankees highly value. This signing helps bolster organizational depth at first base as the Yankees move forward with Ben Rice as their everyday option at the position.

Yankees Re-Sign Amed Rosario

The Yankees have re-signed Amed Rosario to a one-year, $2.5 million deal, with additional incentives.

Rosario, whom the Yankees acquired from the Nationals at the trade deadline, slashed .303/.303/.485 (117 wRC+) over 33 plate appearances in 16 games. He profiles as a strong platoon option at third base in 2026 alongside Ryan McMahon, who would handle duties against right-handed pitching. Rosario also provides valuable versatility, with the ability to fill in at second base and both corner outfield spots.

Yankees Showing Interest in a Reunion with Michael King

According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, the Yankees, Red Sox, and Orioles are all “in” on free-agent RHP Michael King. Chris Cotillo of MassLive added that King has “strong interest” in playing for Boston, as he is a Rhode Island native and Boston College alum. Abraham also reported that King would like to make a decision on his destination soon.

Per Spotrac, King is projected to land a four-year deal worth roughly $23 million AAV, though with multiple teams involved, that figure could easily climb above $25 million AAV. It’s also worth noting that King has a Qualifying Offer attached, meaning the signing team would forfeit two draft picks.

King had a down year in 2025 compared to his breakout 2024 campaign, posting a 4.30 FIP in 2025 versus 3.33 in 2024. Much of that regression can be attributed to injuries that plagued his season, and there’s little reason to believe he can’t bounce back if he stays healthy.

Personally, I’d be happy if the Yankees reunited with King. That said, given his injury history and cost, I’d likely prioritize other options if they’re available.

Yankees Interested in Cardinals LHP JoJo Romero

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the Yankees are among several teams showing interest in LHP JoJo Romero. Romero is projected to earn $4.4 million in 2026, his final year of arbitration before free agency.

The Yankees are in clear need of left-handed bullpen help, with Tim Hill currently the only established LHP returning from the 2025 roster. While Brent Headrick and Jayvien Sandridge are on the 40-man roster, the Yankees appear motivated to add a more proven option.

Romero features a four-pitch mix including slider, sinker, changeup, and four-seam fastball,

with the first three each used over 23% of the time. He was outstanding in 2025, posting a 2.07 ERA across 61 innings.

He ranked elite in several key categories:

• Average Exit Velocity: 87.3 MPH (91st percentile)

• Hard-Hit Rate: 35.1% (88th percentile)

• Groundball Rate: 57.1% (95th percentile)

Romero excels at generating soft contact and keeping the ball on the ground, allowing just two home runs in 2025 after homers were an issue in 2024. Walks remain his biggest concern, however, as his 11.4% walk rate ranked in the 8th percentile.

Here is a sample trade of what it may take to acquire Romero from the Cardinals:

Brock Selvidge, the Yankees’ No. 10 prospect would make sense for St. Louis given their need for starting pitching depth, and he could debut sometime in 2026 after additional Triple-A seasoning.

Overall, Romero would be an excellent fit and a meaningful upgrade for the Yankees bullpen heading into the 2026 season.