Piniella out in Tampa Bay

NOTES

Lou Piniella will not return as manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays next season, a decision that had long been expected after he questioned ownership’s commitment to winning.

Piniella had one year left on a $13 million, four-year contract he signed in October 2002 but, according to the terms of a buyout, will be free to pursue other jobs after Sunday’s finale.

McGwire’s moved on

Mark McGwire made his first appearance at Busch Stadium this season as part of a final-weekend reunion at the 40-year-old St. Louis ballpark. He said he had no regrets about his oft-criticized testimony before Congress in March during steroids hearings, where he repeatedly said “I’m not here to talk about the past.”

“I’ve moved on from it and I wish the media would,” McGwire said. “I’m a very positive person and I just wish everybody else would be positive.”

Clearing the bases

Florida owner Jeffrey Loria said he expects a decision this weekend regarding the future of manager Jack McKeon, who has hinted that he won’t return in 2006. … Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts had surgery to replace a left elbow ligament and reattach a left arm tendon, injuries sustained during a collision last week against New York. He is expected to recover sometime during the spring.