In 2019, it was Gerrit Cole. The next two winter meetings were canceled by COVID and a lockout, but the Yankees picked right back up in 2022 with Aaron Judge. A year later, it was Juan Soto, and last December, it was Max Fried.

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This time around, it was … Cade Winquest?

No, the Rule 5 pick was not the big splash the Yankees have become accustomed to making at the Winter Meetings, which came and went without much fanfare for Brian Cashman and Co., which has generated more consternation among their fans.

In reality, though, it wasn’t as bad as it seemed (talk to your Mets fan friend for some perspective on that). Of the three big names that came off the board during the meetings — Kyle Schwarber, Edwin Díaz and Pete Alonso — none of them were Yankees targets.