PITTSBURGH -- The St. Louis Cardinals, desperate for another starter since Darryl Kile's death, acquired left-hander Chuck Finley from the Cleveland Indians on Friday night for minor league outfielder Luis Garcia and a player to be named.

	Chuck Finley Starting Pitcher St. Louis Cardinals Profile
	2002 SEASON STATISTICS GM IP W-L BB SO ERA 18 105.1 4-11 48 91 4.44

The deal was completed before the NL Central-leading Cardinals lost to Pittsburgh 12-9, but was held up pending the approval of major league baseball.

Any trade involving the transfer of $1 million or more must be approved by the commissioner's office. Finley was making $5 million this year and is still owed $7 million from his original $11 million signing bonus.

"We'll pick up a portion of his salary, not half,'' Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said. "We have to pick up his signing bonus.''

Shapiro said five teams had shown significant interest in Finley. By Friday, the list was whittled down to two -- the Cardinals and presumably the Cincinnati Reds

"He was not surprised that the trade came down,'' Shapiro said of Finley.

The 39-year-old Finley is a proven winner in the majors, with seven seasons of 15 wins or more and a 193-169 career record.

But he is only 4-11 with a 4.44 ERA this season in 18 starts, getting limited run support, and is 12-18 over the last two seasons.

Earlier Friday night, Finley was scratched from his start at Kansas City.

"He's the ultimate workhorse,'' St. Louis outfielder Jim Edmonds said. "He's one of the best professionals I've ever seen. When you play a big game, you want him to have the ball.''

Still, the deal is a decided gamble for the Cardinals, who lead Cincinnati by 3½ games.

The deal was announced after the Cardinals rallied from a six-run deficit but lost 12-9 to Pittsburgh, so manager Tony La Russa wasn't in the mood to talk about the trade.

"That's a subject for tomorrow,'' he said. "After a game like that, that's not a good subject at all.''

With the Indians rebuilding -- they recently dealt ace Bartolo Colon to Montreal -- Finley was eager for a trade to a contending team. Finley, who spent most of his career with the Angels, got back to the playoffs for first time since 1986 last season and went 0-2 in two starts against Seattle.

"I haven't seen him pitch in a couple of years, but I hear his velocity is good and that's the thing you worry about with an older pitcher,'' Edmonds said. "I think this will give him a fresh start.''

However, Finley is dealing with the emotional baggage of a messy divorce case with actress Tawny Kitaen. The two have accused one another of domestic violence and drug abuse in dueling court documents.

Petitioning to regain custody of their two children, Kitaen claimed that Finley started a fight that led to her arrest in April. She also accused him of alcohol and drug abuse, and said he took steroids.

The Cardinals have been looking for pitching help since Kile was found dead in his Chicago hotel room June 22 of coronary artery blockage.

Without Kile, the Cardinals have been starting prospect Travis Smith (3-0, 5.56 ERA), along with the struggling Bud Smith (1-5, 6.02 ERA), who was rocked Friday night, and even the oft-injured Andy Benes, whose career was once thought to be done.

Asked whether the Indians were done trading, Shapiro said: "I don't know.''

There has been speculation that slugging first baseman Jim Thome might be dealt, but he has the right to veto a deal.

Garcia, 23, is hitting .266 with 13 homers, 37 RBI and 59 strikeouts at Double-A New Haven. He was acquired from the Red Sox in December with two other prospects for pitcher Dustin Hermanson.

Shapiro praised Garcia's "raw power'' and called him a "plus-plus talent.'' Garcia will spend this season in Double-A and move up to Triple-A next year.

Shapiro said the Indians have a list of four names to pick as the player to be named.