St. Louis Cardinals skipper Mike Shildt is the National League Manager of the Year. Shildt edged out Milwaukee’s Craig Counsell by just seven points in the voting. He guided the Redbirds to 91 wins and their first NL Central Division title since 2015. Shildt is the first Manager of the Year Award winner who never played professional baseball.
Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli is the American League Manager of the Year. Baldelli became just the seventh rookie skipper to top 100 victories, improving the Twins’ win total by 23 in his first year. Minnesota captured its first AL Central Division title since 2010 this season, but was swept in the ALDS by the Yankees in three games. Baldelli becomes the fourth Twins manager to win the award.
Gabe Kapler is changing coasts. The San Francisco Giants named Kapler their next manager Tuesday. He replaces Bruce Bochy, who retired after 13 seasons. The 44-year-old Kapler spent the last two seasons as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, going 161-and-163. He now takes over a Giants team that has suffered three straight losing seasons.
Adam Wainwright is returning to the St. Louis Cardinals for at least one more year. The two sides Tuesday agreed to a one-year deal, with terms of the deal not disclosed. Wainwright will be entering his 16th season in the Cards’ organization. He made 31 starts this past season, posting a 14-and-10 record with a 4.19 ERA and 153 strikeouts.
Former Houston Astros pitcher Mike Fiers says the team used a center-field camera to steal signs en route to its 2017 World Series title. The current Oakland A’s hurler tells The Athletic he warned future teammates with Detroit and Oakland. The Astros say they are investigating in cooperation with Major League Baseball.