It was something of a surprise three years ago when the Cardinals announced that Mark McGwire, who had been out of the game for several years, was going to be joining the team as hitting coach. He did, from all reports, a good job with the team and they won a World Series and made the postseason in another year with him on the coaching staff.

Which is why this is another October surprise of sorts:

Mark McGwire, who has served as Cardinals hitting coach for three seasons under two managers, has informed the club that he intends to accept a similar position with the Los Angeles Dodgers, sources familiar with the situation told the Post-Dispatch this afternoon.

Though a deal between the Dodgers and McGwire is not considered final, McGwire has told the Cardinals that he does not anticipate accepting their offer of a contract extension.

The article indicates that "geography" is one of the biggest reasons for McGwire's decision; his family lives in Orange County, California, and this appears to simply be a desire on McGwire's part to be closer to home.

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