MILWAUKEE -- Jamey Wright wasn't sure about his immediate plans, but he did know his future looked a whole lot brighter.

	Wright

The St. Louis Cardinals acquired the right-hander and cash from the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday for minor league outfielder Chris Morris and a player to be named.

Wright was penciled in to start against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon pending resolution of the labor dispute.

"I don't know what I'm going to do, I guess I'll drive down there tonight,'' Wright said.

He goes from a team that is trying to avoid its first 100-loss season to a pennant contender.

The NL Central-leading Cardinals have been busy making trades since the All-Star break, getting star third baseman Scott Rolen and pitchers Chuck Finley and Jeff Fassero.

They've had a bevy of pitching problems this season. Ace Matt Morris went on the 15-day DL last week with a strained left hamstring.

"Obviously, they're a strong contender for the postseason,'' Brewers general manager Dean Taylor said. "As we all know, regardless of what happens in the next 24 hours or so in the industry, playoff rosters have to be set as of midnight, Aug. 31.

"That is their mindset, to acquire another healthy pitcher. They've had a number of injuries as we all know. And this would make Jamey eligible for them for the postseason.''

Wright said he was stunned by the trade.

"Dean pulled me into his office and it was the last thing I expected to hear,'' Wright said. "It's a good opportunity and I told Dean I felt bad about leaving because I was starting to do well and there were so many things I wanted to do in my time here.

"It's sad to leave, but there's a chance to be back here next year as a free agent. We'll see what happens.''

Wright was 5-13 with a 5.35 ERA in 19 starts for the Brewers. He was 3-3 with a 2.90 ERA in his last six starts.

"All I care about doing is the same job I've been doing the last month for the Brewers,'' Wright said. "It'll definitely be a more intense atmosphere,one that I never got to experience before. I'll be a wild ride for me.''

Wright began the season as the staff ace but was sidelined for the first two months with a strained muscle in his rib cage and didn't find his rhythm until this month.

"We're losing Jamey Wright at a time when he's pitching pretty darn good,'' Brewers manager Jerry Royster said. "This is as good as he's pitched, and the Cardinals, they're in need of starting pitching and I'll tell you what, they're loaded up now.

"They've got a lot of guys. They've got a lot of names that they can put out there. I think they've got about an eight-man rotation right now with a couple of them healthy.''

Wright, 27, had been scheduled to start Friday night in Cincinnati. The Brewers replaced him in the rotation with Nelson Figueroa, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Indianapolis before the game.

The trade was announced in the ninth inning of the Brewers' 13-10 home loss to the Chicago Cubs.

The deal came one day before the strike deadline. The Cardinals are scheduled to play the first game in the majors on Friday, at 3:20 p.m. ET against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Wright was acquired by the Brewers on Dec. 13, 1999, from Colorado along with catcher Henry Blanco and pitcher Jimmy Haynes for pitcher Scott Karl and infielder Jeff Cirillo.

Wright was 23-34 in 78 games for Milwaukee and is 48-67 in 170 appearances in his major league career.

Morris, 23, who led all minor leagues with 111 stolen bases for Class A Peoria in the Midwest League last year, hit .249 with 38 RBIs and 55 stolen bases for Class A Potomac in the Carolina League this summer.