By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Hitting coach Mark McGwire is set to leave the St. Louis Cardinals for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Negotiations are currently underway, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The newspaper added that McGwire has informed the Cardinals that he will not renew his contract.

McGwire is to replace Dave Hansen, the Dodgers' fourth hitting coach since 2008, who was fired last month. The Dodgers finished 13th in both runs and on-base percentage last year.

Among the ex-hitting coaches who served at that period is Dodgers current manager, Don Mattingly. The Cardinals have had one of the National League's best offenses under McGwire.

In his three seasons in St. Louis, the Cardinals have led the NL in batting average (.269) and on-base percentage (.337) and ranked second in runs (2,263) and fourth in slugging percentage (.416).

Many have credited McGwire for the emergence of young hitters such as Allen Craig, David Freese and Matt Carpenter.

The former home run champion lives in Orange County, about 40 miles south of Dodger Stadium.

 

 

 

Cardinals Hitting Coach Mark McGwire to Take Dodgers Post