Published: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Updated: Monday, October 26, 2009 11:02 AM CDT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals plan a midday news conference amid reports that Tony La Russa will return for a 15th season as manager, and possibly bring Mark McGwire as hitting coach.

The news conference is at 11 a.m. CDT Monday at Busch Stadium.

La Russa told The Associated Press in a telephone interview on Sunday that talks were ongoing. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has reported La Russa will return, and was negotiating with McGwire to be the hitting coach to replace Hal McRae.

McGwire hit a record 70 home runs in 1998, a mark since topped by Barry Bonds.

McGwire has largely been out of the public eye since retiring in 2001. He attended Congressional hearings on steroid abuse, and has fallen far short in balloting for the Hall of Fame despite 583 homers.