ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Cade Winquest’s Yankees career could end without him getting into a regular-season game.
New York designated the 25-year-old right-hander for assignment Friday to open a roster spot for Luis Gil, who was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and is scheduled to start a series opener at the Tampa Bay Rays.
Winquest was selected from St. Louis during the Rule 5 draft at December’s winter meetings and became the Yankees’ first Rule 5 player to make the opening day roster since infielder Josh Phelps in 2007.
“It was hard because obviously we invested that pick in him over the winter, and we still believe that this guy’s got a chance to be a really good pitcher in this league,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Because of off days early in the season, Boone had rested higher-leverage relievers available.
“He’s really talented. We like the process we went through when we selected him,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “It would have been nice to find room to get him in games and develop. It’s hard when you’re trying to compete and develop at the same time. It just didn’t play out the way we wanted it to.”
If Winquest is placed on waivers and not claimed, he must be offered back to St. Louis for $50,000. If the Cardinals don’t take him back and he clears waivers, the Yankees could assign him outright to the minor leagues.
Anthony Volpe, recovering from left shoulder surgery on Oct. 14, could start a minor league rehabilitation assignment next week.
Cashman said he expects Volpe to return to his starting shortstop role.
“It’s always been the plan, but ultimately it’ll be the manager’s decision,” Cashman said.
Right-hander Clarke Schmidt threw off a mound Friday for the first time since Tommy John surgery last July 11. He threw 10 fastballs and said the next big step in his rehab will be facing hitters in June.
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New York Yankees pitcher Cade Winquest warms up before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
New York Yankees pitcher Cade Winquest warms up before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
NEW YORK (AP) — Trains are rolling again on the Long Island Rail Road on Tuesday after a deal was reached to end a strike that had shut down the busiest commuter rail system in the country.
The first trains departed from Manhattan's Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal shortly after noon on Tuesday. Trains were also scheduled to depart from other stations on the four main branches of the system after that time, with full service expected to be back across all branches at 4 p.m. in time for the evening rush.
“It was a difficult circumstance, but I’m very happy and I’m very pleased that we’re back in business,” said Robert Free, president of the LIRR, shortly before the first trains departed. “We’re back to doing what we do best, and that’s providing service, and keeping this region moving.”
Commuters in the eastern suburbs of New York City still had to muddle through another tough morning rush hour, as trains weren't set to be running in time for the commute into work after the agreement was reached late Monday.
The LIRR still urged riders to work from home again Tuesday if possible. Shuttle buses were being offered from a handful of locations on Long Island to subway stations in New York City.
Five labor unions representing about half the train system’s workforce went on strike at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, halting service for roughly 250,000 commuters who use the rail system that connects New York City to its eastern suburbs every weekday.
Hallie Kessler was among the weary Long Island commuters who welcomed the strike's end. With the trains out of service, the 24-year old speech therapist commuted three hours home from her job at a public school in the New York City borough of Queens on Monday.
“Obviously I wish trains would be running when peak hours start so I could avoid the long morning commute, but happy to not deal with it in the afternoon when I’m leaving work,” Kessler said. “Curious what the deal says about future fares, which has been a big concern, but we’ll see.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and railroad officials have said they're not at liberty to disclose details of the new contract terms until they're voted on and approved by union members. But the Democrat, who is up for reelection, stressed the deal won’t increase fares or taxes and will give unionized workers the fair wages they deserve.
The first impacts of the walkout were felt over the weekend, as baseball fans had to find other ways to get to Citi Field in Queens to see the New York Mets take on their crosstown rivals the New York Yankees.
Hochul said the deal ensures basketball fans won't meet the same fate as they travel to watch the New York Knicks continue their playoff run on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, which is located directly above the LIRR's Penn Station hub in Manhattan.
The unions — which represent locomotive engineers, machinists, signalmen and others — and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority had been negotiating a new contract since 2023, but talks had stalled over salaries and healthcare.
The unions have said raises were needed to help workers keep up with inflation and the rising cost of living in the New York City area. The MTA had said the union’s initial demands would lead to fare increases and set a difficult precedent for negotiations with other transit unions.
The strike was the first walkout for the LIRR since a two-day strike in 1994.
Long Island Rail Road workers walk on the picket line outside of Penn Station on the third day of their strike, Monday, May 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Workers stand near the Long Island Raill Road ticketing counter in New York's Penn Station, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Rail passengers pass the Long Island Rail Road waiting room in Penn Station, in New York, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Tracks are empty at Mineola train station as Long Island Rail Road workers enter the third day of their strike, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Mineola, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Long Island Rail Road workers walk on the picket line outside of Penn Station on the third day of their strike, Monday, May 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Commuters board buses to Long Island outside of the Jamaica–179th Street station as Long Island Rail Road workers enter the third day of their strike, Monday, May 18, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Long Island Rail Road trains sit in the West Side Yard on the first day of a strike, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
