MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers may be slumping since the All-Star break, but they're apparently not willing to cash in 2006 just yet.

Hours after announcing a blockbuster deal with the Rangers, the Brewers acquired veteran Phillies third baseman David Bell in a move that on one hand signified the team still has hopes of making a run at the National League Wild Card, and on the other meant potentially bad news for banged-up second baseman Rickie Weeks.

"Until someone tells us that we're not in a pennant race, we feel we are," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said.

Headed to Philadelphia is 22-year-old right-hander Wilfrido Laureano, who has been in Milwaukee's Minor League system since 2001, but has not pitched above the Class A level. Bell is a free agent after the season, and the Brewers will have to pay him about $1.6 million over the next two months.

Brewers manager Ned Yost said he expects Bell to serve as the everyday third baseman. Jeff Cirillo will move back to the bench.

"He's a gamer. He plays hard," Phillies GM Pat Gillick said of the 33-year-old Bell. "That's the only way he knows how to play. I think he was somewhat surprised, but reacted in a professional manner. He's going to make every effort to be in Milwaukee [on Saturday] for their game with Cincinnati."

For that to happen, the Brewers will have to make two roster moves to get him onto the 25- and 40-man rosters. The team will likely place Weeks on the 15-day disabled list with a right wrist injury that is more serious than previously thought, and will shift shortstop J.J. Hardy to the 60-day DL. Hardy had season-ending surgery on his right ankle last week.

The Brewers are further strapped by the absence of third baseman Corey Koskie, who remains sidelined indefinitely by the after-effects of a concussion suffered earlier this month.

"We want as much depth as we can for August and September," said Melvin, who added outfielders Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix and reliever Francisco Cordero in an earlier deal that sent Carlos Lee to Texas. "August is a big month in baseball. It determines if you can be in the race in September."

The Brewers lost to the Reds on Friday, their 12th loss in 16 games, and dropped seven games behind the Wild Card-leading Reds.

The Brewers have made three trades this week, all for established Major Leaguers. Earlier in the week, Melvin and Ash got veteran utility man Tony Graffanino from the Royals.

Bell is batting .278 with six home runs and 34 RBIs after going 0-for-4 in Friday's 4-1 Phillies loss to the Marlins. August (.271 average) and September (.276) are historically Bell's strongest months.

"We're trying to patch up our infield a little bit," Melvin said.

The latest setback was to Weeks, who injured a tendon at the base of his right hand while waggling a bat on the bench before batting practice earlier in the week, yet another blow to a team already rife with weird injuries.

Yost, who is prone to understating injuries, has called Weeks' injury "irritation." But indications from other sources are that it's much more serious than that, and a trip to the disabled list remains a possibility.

"It's somewhat similar to J.J.'s, where the tendon is loose," Melvin said. "You have to tighten that tendon up. It's how tough you are, and how much [pain] you can put up with. Rickie has such a hard swing, I don't know if he can put up with it."

Yost said: "We're just waiting for that soreness to get out."

Koskie's injury also remains a bit of a mystery. It goes back to July 5, when he jarred his head teaming with Bill Hall on a highlight-worthy play against the Reds. Koskie eventually was diagnosed with a minor concussion, and was placed on the DL after symptoms persisted following the All-Star break.

"There's nothing you can do except wait for him to say he's feeling better," Melvin said.

Are the Brewers done dealing?

"We're probably getting near the end, but you never know," Melvin said. "Somebody makes a call, a proposal. There are always possibilities. I don't see any other moves, unless you want to get [Alfonso] Soriano."

Hold on, rumor-mongers. Melvin was kidding.