Eckstein's brother to coach Redbirds

ST. LOUIS -- Rick Eckstein, older brother of St. Louis Cardinals shorstop David Eckstein, will be the hitting coach for the Class AAA Memphis Redbirds. Eckstein was formerly hitting coach at New Orleans, the Class AAA team for the Nationals.

Gaylen Pitts will manage the Cardinals' Class A team in Palm Beach. He managed the Yankees' New York-Penn League affiliate in Staten Island last season. Pitts previously worked in several capacities for the Cardinals organization from 1981 through 2001.

In other moves:

• Joe Almaraz will manage the rookie league Johnson City team, replacing Dan Radison, who was promoted to minor league hitting instructor.
• John Vuch was promoted to director of minor league baseball operations.
• Dan Kantrovitz was promoted to director of college scouting.

-- AP