Albert, Stubby Clapp join Cards coaching staff

ST. LOUIS -- A man whose last job included the opportunity to tell players they were headed to the big leagues has earned a Major League promotion of his own.
After managing Triple-A Memphis to consecutive Pacific Coast League titles and a .619 winning percentage, Stubby Clapp was announced on Monday as the Cardinals' new first-base coach. Joining him as a newcomer on manager Mike Shildt's staff will be Jeff Albert, who has been hired away from the Astros to serve as hitting coach.
These two join Oliver Marmol (bench coach), Ron "Pop" Warner (third-base coach), Mike Maddux (pitching coach), Mark Budaska (assistant hitting coach), Bryan Eversgerd (bullpen coach) and Willie McGee (assistant coach) to complete Shildt's staff.
The Cardinals were ready to add Clapp to the staff weeks ago, but first allowed him to explore other potential opportunities elsewhere. There was speculation that he could be in consideration for managerial jobs in Toronto and/or Texas. The Blue Jays went on to hire Charlie Montoyo. The Rangers' search is ongoing.
Clapp, who is currently managing in the Arizona Fall League, appeared in 23 games for the Cardinals in 2001 and another 911 in the Minors. His coaching resume includes Minor League stints with the Astros (2007-12) and Blue Jays (2013-16), as well as roles with the Canadian National Team and the World Baseball Classic.
Albert returns to the Cardinals after six years in the Astros' system. There he served as a roving hitting instructor (2013) and Minor League hitting coordinator (2014-17) before moving to the big league staff as assistant hitting coach last season. His prior stint with the Cardinals included one season as hitting coach for Class A Short-Season Batavia (2008) and four more as Class A Advanced Palm Beach's hitting coach (2009-12).
Four Cardinals declare for free agency
With the World Series over, 145 players across MLB became free agents on Monday. Those include four Cardinals: Bud Norris, Matt Adams, Tyson Ross and Adam Wainwright.
Wainwright, however, won't remain a free agent for long, as he has already agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Cardinals for 2019. That contract includes a low base salary with incentives based on games pitched (both as a starter and reliever).

Though that contract was finalized earlier in October, it could not officially be signed until after Wainwright became a free agent due to the size in pay cut.
The Cardinals have not prioritized retaining any of their other free agents, nor will they be making any qualifying offers this year. Teams that choose to do so must extend those offers by 4 p.m. CT on Friday. Players have 10 days to accept or reject.
Wong wins defensive honor
Kolten Wong won the first of what could be multiple defensive honors as he has been selected for a Fielding Bible Award, which recognizes him as MLB's top defensive second baseman. Wong is a first-time Fielding Bible winner.
Winners are chosen by a 12-member panel of baseball experts who rank the top 10 players at each position. Wong scored 111 points, nine shy of a perfect score. He edged Colorado's DJ LeMahieu by five points in the second-closest vote at any position.

This announcement comes days after Wong was named as a finalist for a Rawlings Gold Glove Award. LeMahieu and Javier Báez, the Fielding Bible's multi-position winner this year, are also guaranteed top-three finishes as National League second basemen. The winner at each position will be announced during a one-hour ESPN telecast at 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Worth noting
• MLB announced that catcher Yadier Molina and reliever John Brebbia will represent the Cardinals in the upcoming Japan All-Star Series, set to take place from Nov. 8-15. The series will feature seven games played across Japan.
• The MLB Players Alumni Association announced that it will honor Cardinals Hall of Famer Bob Gibson with a Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual Legends for Youth Dinner in New York City on Nov. 8. Cardinals outfielder Harrison Bader is also scheduled to be in attendance at the event as a finalist for the Heart and Hustle Award.