Mark McGwire is back in baseball, reunited with Tony La Russa as the St. Louis Cardinals' hitting coach.

La Russa agreed to return for a 15th year as manager yesterday with a one-year contract, the first time he hasn't had a multiyear deal with the team. All of his coaches will return except for Hal McRae, who will be replaced by the former star.

"Mark is passionate about the game, passionate about the Cardinals," chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said. "Tony thinks he'll be a great coach, and I think he's got a lot to offer."

McGwire was not at the news conference at Busch Stadium, but La Russa and general manager John Mozeliak said there will be no effort to shield McGwire from questions about steroids. The team anticipated a telephone news conference with McGwire.

"By no means is he trying to hide, and by no means are we trying to hide him," Mozeliak said.

McGwire hit a then-record 70 home runs in 1998 and retired with 583 homers and a .263 career average in 2001. He famously refused to answer questions about steroids use during a March 2005 congressional hearing, saying he wasn't there to talk about the past.

Former congressman Tom Davis, who led the committee that held the hearings, told the Daily News of New York that he welcomed the news.

"I think he's entitled to another chance," Davis told the newspaper.

McGwire has received just under 25 percent support from voters in his three appearances on the Hall of Fame ballot, well under the 75 percent needed. La Russa hopes the 46-year-old can use this position to repair a tarnished image.

"I'm a big fan of his," the manager said. "He's back in uniform and, hopefully, people will see his greatness. But the No. 1 reason he's here is to coach our hitters."

La Russa said he first contacted McGwire about the coaching job a week earlier, when he was still supposedly mulling his future.

La Russa had been attempting to persuade McGwire to return to the team as a spring training instructor for several seasons. La Russa managed McGwire for all but one of his 16 seasons, both in Oakland and St. Louis.

PIRATES

YATES A FREE AGENT

Right-handed reliever Tyler Yates has chosen to become a free agent after Pittsburgh requested outright waivers on him.

Yates, a Kaua'i High and University of Hawai'i-Hilo alum, had Tommy John surgery in July to replace a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow for the second time in his career.

He is not expected to pitch again until the middle of next season. Yates also had the ligament repaired in 2002 and needed major shoulder surgery in 2005.

The Pirates apparently planned to offer Yates a minor league contract, but he preferred to seek work in another organization. Yates made $1.3 million this season.

Yates, 32, didn't pitch again after being placed on the disabled list May 15 with a 7.50 ERA.

ELSEWHERE

White Sox: Chicago third baseman Gordon Beckham won his second American League rookie award yesterday, this one from his peers in the players' association.

Beckham previously was voted rookie of the year by the Sporting News in a player poll. He was joined in both by Phillies left-hander J.A. Happ in the NL.

Beckham, 23, hit .270 with 28 doubles and 63 RBIs in 103 games.

Padres: San Diego has introduced Jed Hoyer as its new general manager.

Hoyer, who had been assistant to Boston GM Theo Epstein, was hired to replace Kevin Towers, who was fired during the last weekend of the season.

Padres vice chairman and CEO Jeff Moorad said Hoyer is highly respected in baseball and is the right person to lead the Padres.

Mariners: Seattle says Ken Griffey Jr. has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to remove a bone spur.

The team says Griffey, 39, had the surgery yesterday in Cincinnati, and it was performed by Dr. Timothy Kremchek.

Normal recovery time is four to six weeks.