ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) \u2014 Cade Winquest\u2019s Yankees career could end without him getting into a regular-season game.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Winquest was selected from St. Louis during the Rule 5 draft at December\u2019s winter meetings and became the Yankees\u2019 first Rule 5 player to make the opening day roster since infielder Josh Phelps in 2007.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was hard because obviously we invested that pick in him over the winter, and we still believe that this guy\u2019s got a chance to be a really good pitcher in this league,\u201d Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.<\/p>\n
Because of off days early in the season, Boone had rested higher-leverage relievers available.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s really talented. We like the process we went through when we selected him,\u201d general manager Brian Cashman said. \u201cIt would have been nice to find room to get him in games and develop. It\u2019s hard when you\u2019re trying to compete and develop at the same time. It just didn\u2019t play out the way we wanted it to.\u201d<\/p>\n
If Winquest is placed on waivers and not claimed, he must be offered back to St. Louis for $50,000. If the Cardinals don\u2019t take him back and he clears waivers, the Yankees could assign him outright to the minor leagues.<\/p>\n
Injury updates<\/p>\n
Anthony Volpe, recovering from left shoulder surgery on Oct. 14, could start a minor league rehabilitation assignment next week.<\/p>\n
Cashman said he expects Volpe to return to his starting shortstop role.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always been the plan, but ultimately it\u2019ll be the manager\u2019s decision,\u201d Cashman said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n