St. Louis ? Tony La Russa had little to say Wednesday about speculation he will leave the St. Louis Cardinals after a dozen seasons to manage the Seattle Mariners next season.

“No reaction,” La Russa said.

“Nothing to it?” La Russa was asked.

“I don’t think so,” he responded.

Last year’s World Series champions faded in September and have little hope of making the postseason.

“I just want us to finish strong, that’s the No. 1 thing,” La Russa said. “We’ve been finishing strong in effort, I just want us to finish strong and get enough wins to where we have a good taste.”

There has been speculation that La Russa and general manager Walt Jocketty might leave after the season for the Cincinnati Reds or the Mariners.

La Russa, the third-winningest manager in major league history, led the Cardinals to the postseason seven times in his first 11 seasons, also making it to the World Series in 2004.