ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Phillies addressed their most pressing need Wednesday night, acquiring closer Brad Lidge from the Houston Astros in a five-player trade that also brought utility infielder Eric Bruntlett to the Phillies in exchange for outfielder Michael Bourn, reliever Geoff Geary and Minor League third baseman Mike Costanzo.

"He's got outstanding stuff and has been a guy who has pitched very well since he first came up," Phillies general manager Pat Gillick said. "It's no secret we've been looking for pitching, and this certainly helps us there. Bruntlett's a guy who can play several positions, pinch-hit, run and help out in a lot of ways."

The acquisition of Lidge enables the Phillies to move closer Brett Myers to the rotation. Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro said Myers is expected to be the No. 2 starter behind Cole Hamels.

"We're getting one of the premier closers in the game," Amaro said. "The marketplace, as we all know, is a little scary out there as far as pitching. We felt this was one of the best ways for us to really improve our rotation. We're essentially adding another quality starter without creating a hole elsewhere. Myers obviously has [started before], so we feel this clearly improves our pitching staff."

Lidge, 30, went 5-3 with a 3.36 ERA with 19 saves and 88 strikeouts in 66 games for the Astros. In six Major League seasons with Houston, the right-hander is 23-20 with a 3.30 ERA with 123 saves, third most on the franchise's all-time list. But Lidge struggled at times, blowing eight save opportunities in 2007 and temporarily losing his closer's job.

As recently as two seasons ago, Lidge ranked among the top relievers in the Major Leagues, finishing in the top 10 of National League Cy Young Award voting in 2004 and making his first All-Star team the following year.

"He's a proven closer, a guy who routinely throws in the high 90s," Amaro said. "We're very excited to be able to get him."

Lidge is excited for the fresh start after his recent up-and-down seasons in Houston.

"If I had to put a finger on it, I'd say I'm not shocked but I am surprised," Lidge said of the trade. "You prepare yourself for something like this, especially with a new GM. I knew it was a possibility. I was still thinking it wasn't going happen, but I wasn't shocked."

Lidge said he loved his time in Houston, but was looking forward to pitching for Philadelphia.

"I'm glad it happened in the offseason and not during the season," he said. "For my family, it's a lot easier. It's hard, because I've been with the Astros my entire career. This is my first trade. It'll be interesting and hopefully it'll be good for my career. I was lucky to spend five years in Houston and establish myself as who I am today based on that."

Lidge is recovering from offseason right knee surgery, but Gillick, Amaro and Astros GM Ed Wade do not think Lidge's health is an issue. Neither does Lidge, who said he will be ready to go when Spring Training begins.

"We're confident he'll be 100 percent ready to go," Gillick said.

Bruntlett, 29, completed his fifth season with the Astros in 2007 and hit .246 with 14 RBIs in 80 games. He recorded career-high totals in hits (34), at-bats (138) and walks (20) in 2007. During his five big league seasons, Bruntlett has hit .250 with nine home runs and 50 RBIs in 320 career games.

"Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett have been outstanding members of the Astros organization," Wade said. "We weren't anxious to trade either player, but this deal makes sense for both the Astros and the Phillies."

Bourn's departure will put greater pressure on the Phillies to re-sign free agent center fielder Aaron Rowand.

Bourn, 24, hit .277 in his first full season as a Phillies reserve. He stole 18 bases and was caught just once. A Houston native, the trade will allow him to return to his hometown as a full-time starter in center field.

Geary, 31, bounced between Triple-A and the Majors in '07, finishing with a 3-2 record and 4.41 ERA.

Costanzo was once considered one of the organization's top prospects before a down year in 2006. The Phillies' second-round choice in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, he hit 27 homers this past season with Double-A Reading.