from espn.com
ST. LOUIS -- Tony La Russa is returning to the St. Louis Cardinals as manager on a multiyear contract, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney, but there will be at least one change to his coaching staff.
Mark McGwire, the former Cardinals slugger, will replace Hal McRae, who has been fired as hitting coach, a source told ESPN.
La Russa's new contract is for one year, plus a mutual option for 2011 -- meaning either he or the Cardinals can walk away after next year, sources told Olney.
The Cardinals scheduled a news conference for Monday at noon ET but did not specify why. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on its Web site that the news conference would announce that La Russa had agreed to a 15th season.
McGwire's father-in-law, Robert Slemer of suburban Glen Carbon, Ill., told The Associated Press he was unaware of any talks and added, "It's news to me."
La Russa managed McGwire on both the Athletics and Cardinals. McGwire hit 70 home runs in 1998 to break Roger Maris' 37-year-old record, a mark since topped by Barry Bonds, and retired after the 2001 season.
McGwire has largely been out of the public eye since then.
Mark McGwire retired after the 2001 season and has been mostly absent from the public eye since.
He attended congressional hearings on steroid abuse but said little in testimony, saying "I'm not here to talk about the past," and has fallen far short in balloting for the Hall of Fame despite hitting 583 homers.
La Russa and general manager John Mozeliak did not immediately return phone messages Sunday night from the AP.
The 65-year-old La Russa has been mulling his future since the NL Central champion Cardinals were swept in the division series by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 10. His two-year, $8.5 million contract expires at the end of the month.
"We're getting closer," La Russa, who has managed the team for 14 years, said earlier Sunday. "But nothing has been decided. I can't tell you anything yet."
Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and general manager John Mozeliak have both said they'd like La Russa to return.
He's led the Cardinals to eight postseason appearances and a 2006 World Series title, and he's third on the career victories list, trailing only Connie Mack and John McGraw.
ST. LOUIS -- Tony La Russa is returning to the St. Louis Cardinals as manager on a multiyear contract, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney, but there will be at least one change to his coaching staff.
Mark McGwire, the former Cardinals slugger, will replace Hal McRae, who has been fired as hitting coach, a source told ESPN.
La Russa's new contract is for one year, plus a mutual option for 2011 -- meaning either he or the Cardinals can walk away after next year, sources told Olney.
The Cardinals scheduled a news conference for Monday at noon ET but did not specify why. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on its Web site that the news conference would announce that La Russa had agreed to a 15th season.
McGwire's father-in-law, Robert Slemer of suburban Glen Carbon, Ill., told The Associated Press he was unaware of any talks and added, "It's news to me."
La Russa managed McGwire on both the Athletics and Cardinals. McGwire hit 70 home runs in 1998 to break Roger Maris' 37-year-old record, a mark since topped by Barry Bonds, and retired after the 2001 season.
McGwire has largely been out of the public eye since then.
Mark McGwire retired after the 2001 season and has been mostly absent from the public eye since.
He attended congressional hearings on steroid abuse but said little in testimony, saying "I'm not here to talk about the past," and has fallen far short in balloting for the Hall of Fame despite hitting 583 homers.
La Russa and general manager John Mozeliak did not immediately return phone messages Sunday night from the AP.
The 65-year-old La Russa has been mulling his future since the NL Central champion Cardinals were swept in the division series by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 10. His two-year, $8.5 million contract expires at the end of the month.
"We're getting closer," La Russa, who has managed the team for 14 years, said earlier Sunday. "But nothing has been decided. I can't tell you anything yet."
Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and general manager John Mozeliak have both said they'd like La Russa to return.
He's led the Cardinals to eight postseason appearances and a 2006 World Series title, and he's third on the career victories list, trailing only Connie Mack and John McGraw.
