Tony La Russa, Cardinals manager for the past twelve years, will stick around for two more, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. A disappointing 78-84 season to cap his previous three-year deal, plus instability at general manager, had the four-time Manager of the Year initially uncertain as to whether he'd return.
"I needed some time to get away and refresh," said La Russa, a year removed from his team's upstart run at the World Series. Speculation was that La Russa had been considered for the vacant Yankees gig, but the 2,375-game winner—third all-time—declined to speak with Bronx officials. (More MLB stories.)