If it's February, Tony La Russa needs to be in Florida — not northern California. According to MLB.com, the former Cardinals manager will depart his West Coast home to spend spring training with the Detroit Tigers and old friends Jim Leyland and Dave Dombrowski in a non-official, non-uniformed capacity.

Leyland, the Tigers' manager, confirmed La Russa's plans when he arrived Thursday for camp in Lakeland, Fla.

"Tony's going to be down for a couple weeks," Leyland told reporters. "He's going to work with Dave in the front office, and he's going over to Jupiter (where the Cardinals train) for a few days and then go out to Arizona for a few days. He will not be in uniform."

According to MLB.com, La Russa's time with Dombrowski — the Tigers' president and general manager — could help him decide whether to pursue a front-office role somewhere.

La Russa hired Leyland for his Chicago White Sox coaching staff in 1982, and again in 1999 as a special assistant with the Cardinals. They met as managers in the 2006 World Series, with La Russa's Cardinals beating Leyland's Tigers in five games.

Dombrowski was an assistant general manager with the White Sox during La Russa's managerial stint.