Mark McGwire Returns

[TN TITAN Fan In STL]

Tony La Russa this morning will announce his return as Cardinals manager along with the surprise addition of Mark McGwire, the former home run king, who will end an eight-year, self-imposed exile from the game to become the team's hitting coach.

La Russa, 65, has agreed to come back for at least a 15th season as the team's skipper after taking two weeks to weigh the factors that contributed to the Cardinals' abrupt, offensively challenged exit from the postseason in a three-game Division Series sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers. One of those factors apparently led to Friday's move to sever ties with hitting coach Hal McRae and to install McGwire as his successor.

General manager John Mozeliak declined to comment Sunday, and La Russa did not return several messages. However, team sources indicated that Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. would today confirm a two-year deal with La Russa, who arrived in St. Louis in time to attend Sunday night's Bruce Springsteen concert at Scottrade Center.

La Russa acknowledged Saturday being close to a decision while a club source said the club would announce early this week his intention to return.

The deal is for two years and includes a raise over his previous two-year, $8.5 million deal. A modest bump would allow La Russa to supplant the Dodgers' Joe Torre as the game's highest-paid manager.

La Russa's verdict may be dwarfed by a move to pull McGwire from his relative isolation from the game.

McGwire became a national hero when he eclipsed Roger Maris' single-season home run record by mashing 70 during the summer of '98. He abruptly retired after the 2001 season and maintained an increasingly lower profile as his ties to performance-enhancing drugs were detailed in a 2005 book by former Oakland A's teammate Jose Canseco. McGwire then offered uncomfortable, incomplete testimony on March 17, 2005, before a congressional subcommittee.

Following an appearance at old Busch Stadium in 2006, McGwire insisted he would not discuss the topic again.

During the interim, however, McGwire has made himself available to a select number of major-league hitters near his Orange County, Calif., home. His tutorials have drawn raves from those who have attended, including Cardinals second baseman Skip Schumaker and former Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan.

At La Russa's urging, the club repeatedly invited McGwire to spring training as a guest instructor. He came closest to accepting in 2007 before reconsidering due to a family matter.

The Cardinals consider McGwire's hiring sensitive enough that they ordered team employees not to discuss it. Mozeliak refused to confirm the move Sunday. McGwire is not expected to attend today's press conference.

As recently as the day following his team's elimination from the postseason, La Russa insisted he did not foresee changes to his coaching staff should he decide to return. He also gave McRae a vote of confidence as the club struggled through a low-scoring May.

The Cardinals led the National League in batting while ranking fourth in runs scored in 2008 before dropping to fifth in hitting and sixth in runs this year.

La Russa became increasingly hands-on with his hitters as the season wound down. However, his intervention did little to prevent the club from finishing a 91-71 regular season in an offensive funk before scoring six runs during its ill-fated Division Series, which included a 4-for-30 performance with runners in scoring position.

Mozeliak was scheduled to meet in New York this afternoon with free agent Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman but canceled to return to St. Louis in time for this morning's announcement. The Cardinals have likewise virtually abandoned hopes of signing Chapman, believed to be seeking a financial package worth at least $40 million.

The club has not disclosed the future of its coaching staff beyond pitching coach Dave Duncan and McGwire.

Duncan enjoys a mutual option with the club for next season and indicated earlier this month he would likely return if La Russa did likewise. The remainder of the staff was on one-year deals. All except McRae are likely to return pending completion of negotiations.

McRae served for five years, the longest of any of La Russa's five hitting coaches with the Cardinals.(STLTODAY.COM)

[Dr. Jack]

Welcome back to Earth Mark