Yankees' roster decision ends drought extending to 1973
This has been a long time coming.
Yankees' roster decision ends drought extending to 1973 originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The New York Yankees already made history just by picking Cade Winquest in the Rule 5 Draft at all.
Prior to Winquest's selection this offseason, the Yanks hadn't chosen a player in the Rule 5 Draft since 2011. But then the Yankees went a step further. They decided to keep Winquest on the MLB roster for Opening Day.
The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported the news on X on Tuesday, and with it came an incredibly long drought ended. MORE: Cal Raleigh was supposed to play for the Braves The Yankees hadn't actually kept a Rule 5 Draft pick on their roster since 1973. The way the Rule 5 Draft works is this: Any player six years into their pro career not on a 40-man roster can be chosen.
A selected player has to remain on the new team's MLB team for the entire season. If not on the MLB roster of the new team, the player is returned to his former club. MORE: 3 bold predictions for Yankees' season It can be quite difficult to make a roster as a Rule 5 pick.