After the unexpected death of Darryl Kile, Cards manager Tony La Russa and general manager Walt Jocketty have to make a decision under circumstances they never could have predicted.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Sunday that the club will start to figure out how to replace Kile in the lineup during Monday's off day.

"We might be able to find someone who pitches like Darryl, but we won't be able to find someone to take his place as a leader," right-handed reliever Luther Hackman told the newspaper. "We know that already."

Jocketty said in the report that the Cardinals would decide whom to promote from Memphis (Triple-A) or New Haven (Double-A) on Monday before thinking about a long-term solution via trade.

"We really haven't given a lot of thought (to replacing Kile)," Jocketty told the Post-Dispatch. "We know we need somebody (to start against the Milwaukee Brewers) Tuesday; beyond that, it hasn't really been addressed."

With rookie Jason Simontacchi as the No. 3 starter and Bud Smith, 0-5 in six starts, serving as the No. 4, there is a serious problem with the rotation. St. Louis could consider to promote Travis Smith from Memphis or Jimmy Journell from New Haven.

The Cardinals also will have economic issues to contend with Monday as well. Kile was signed through next season with a club option for 2004. He was due $5.5 million this season but had agreed to defer more than $2 million to next season, the Post-Dispatch reported. Club officials said that Kile's contract was insured but would not address the provisions of the policy, according to the newspaper. It is standard for policies to include different levels of indemnification depending on the circumstances surrounding death.