Tony LaRussa Thought Likely To Return To Cardinals; Jose Oquendo A Managerial Candidate

Tony La Russa is expected by friends to decide to return to the Cardinals for one more year. La Russa hasn't made it official, and he's unpredictable, so there are no guarantees.

But with Albert Pujols and Chris Carpenter committed to one more year in St. Louis, folks who know La Russa say they would be surprised to see him leave. La Russa was said by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to be mulling an offer to return by the Cardinals while on a cross-country drive to his home in California.

Pujols' $16-million option for 2011 was officially picked up by the Cardinals, not that anyone expected otherwise. But it is just a big reminder for La Russa that the Cardinals will be a threat again next year.

Sports Illustrated