Yankees Make Major Roster Shake-Up: Deal 54-Home Run Catcher, Add 100-MPH Cardinals Flamethrower in Bold Winter Bet

New York, NY — The Yankees front office promised an aggressive offseason, and on Wednesday, they delivered one of their most dramatic roster pivots in years — parting ways with a power-hitting catcher who blasted 54 career minor-league home runs while simultaneously landing a 100-mph fireballer from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Rule 5 Draft.

It was a move that blended risk, upside, and organizational philosophy — and sent a clear message that Brian Cashman’s focus is shifting toward building an elite, fearsome bullpen for 2026.

Yankees Move On From Their Hard-Hitting Catcher

The first domino fell when New York officially cut ties with Omar Martinez, the longtime catching prospect whose raw power made him a favorite of scouts but who never found a consistent path to the major-league roster. Martinez, now 24, leaves the organization having slugged 54 homers across seven minor-league seasons — including a memorable blast off Gerrit Cole in 2025 spring training that briefly ignited hopes of a breakout.

But with Austin Wells and Jose Trevino entrenched at the MLB level — and with the Yankees increasingly prioritizing defensive-first catchers — Martinez became the odd man out.

League insiders say several AL and NL teams had inquired about his availability, but the Yankees ultimately decided to clear space for pitching upside rather than hold onto a long-term project.

Enter Cade Winquest: A High-Velocity Weapon the Yankees Have Wanted for Years

Only hours after Martinez’s departure, New York executed the second half of its roster maneuver — selecting Cade Winquest, the 25-year-old Cardinals right-hander who routinely touches 98–100 mph with a fastball that Yankees scouts have reportedly “coveted since 2022.”

Winquest was unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft, allowing the Yankees to finally grab a pitcher they had initially hoped to take in the amateur draft three years earlier.

Assistant GM Mike Fishman didn’t hide the organization’s excitement.

“He’s got the velocity, the traits, and the pitch shapes we know how to develop,” Fishman said. “This is exactly the profile our pitching department excels with.”

A Risky Move With Clear Upside

Rule 5 selections must stay on the major-league roster all season, meaning Winquest will immediately battle for a bullpen spot this spring — a challenge for a pitcher with only eight Double-A starts in 2025.

But the Yankees believe the reward outweighs the risk. With Devin Williams gone, Ian Hamilton non-tendered, and multiple bullpen openings, Winquest enters an environment designed for him to thrive.

His calling card isn’t just the fastball — his curveball posted a 46% whiff rate in 2025, making it a potential elite secondary pitch.

Why New York Made Both Moves

According to team sources, the Yankees viewed this as a simple calculation:

• Martinez: power-hitting but blocked on the depth chart

With the bullpen needing immediate rebuilding, the club opted for impact pitching over long-term positional depth.

A Statement to the Fanbase

Inside the organization, this move is being viewed as a signal: the Yankees are preparing to modernize their pitching staff with power arms — something they believe is essential for competing with Houston, Baltimore, and Texas in 2026.

By moving on from a 54-HR catcher and replacing him with a 100-mph arm, New York is betting on swing-and-miss, not swing-for-power.

And today’s aggressive double-move suggests one thing:

The Yankees aren’t trimming the roster.
They’re sharpening it.