Finley was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals on July 19, 2002, for minor-league outfielder Luis Garcia and a player to be named later. Outfielder Coco Crisp was sent to Cleveland in early August to complete the deal, making his MLB debut later that month. Finley went 7–4 with a 3.80 ERA in 14 starts through the remainder of the season. In the 2002 postseason, Finley started one game of the 2002 National League Division Series, getting a no decision as the Cardinals swept the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the 2002 National League Championship Series, he won his only start, a 5–4 win over the San Francisco Giants in Game 3, as the Cardinals were eliminated in five games.