The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, citing persons with the team not authorized to speak about the matters because the deal is not final, reported that La Russa's return would be announced Monday.

The newspaper also said McGwire is negotiating to be the hitting coach, replacing Hal McRae.

McGwire has been almost entirely out of the public eye since 2005 testimony before a congressional committee investigating steroids in baseball. He hit 583 home runs and slammed a single-season record 70 homers for the Cardinals and La Russa in 1998.

He retired after the 2001 season.

Enlarge By Roberto Borea, AP Mark McGwire, who retired in 2001, has been out of the public eye since his 2005 testimony before a congressional committee investigating steroids in baseball.