Nov 02, 2009 8:45 AM EST

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa appears to have more power than ever within the organization.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the team's front office deferred to La Russa on the decision to hire Mark McGwire as their hitting coach.

The development comes just a few weeks after there was speculation that La Russa might not return as the manager of the Cardinals because of decreasing control.

Via St. Louis Post-Dispatch