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PHILADELPHIA -- Trying to bolster a rotation depleted by injuries, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired starting pitcher Cory Lidle from the Cincinnati Reds on Monday for two minor leaguers and a player to be named.

Lidle, who is 7-10 with a 5.32 ERA in 24 starts, will step into an inconsistent rotation that had been missing Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla. Lidle is tied for second in the NL with three complete games, and he led the Reds with 149 innings pitched.

"He's shown in the past he can help a contending club," Phillies general manager Ed Wade said.

Cincinnati obtained Class-A outfielder Javon Moran and left-handed pitcher Joe Wilson in the trade.

While the Phillies improved their pitching, their offense took a major hit when slugger Pat Burrell decided he will have season-ending wrist surgery on Friday.

Lidle probably will take Paul Abbott's spot in Philadelphia's rotation. Abbott is 1-6 with a 6.24 ERA in 10 starts since signing with the Phillies after being released by Tampa Bay.

Lidle pitched six solid innings in a win against Colorado on Sunday. He'll throw in the bullpen Tuesday before the Phillies decide when he'll make his first start for Philadelphia.

"He's a veteran guy who knows how to pitch," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said.

Millwood was placed on the 15-day disabled list last Friday because of tendinitis in his pitching elbow. Padilla, out since May with a biceps injury, is scheduled to return Tuesday night against Colorado. Philadelphia hasn't had its opening day rotation intact since May 29.

Lidle was Cincinnati's most notable addition last offseason, signing a $2.75 million, one-year contract. He can become a free agent after this season.

"It was our feeling it was unlikely that Cory was going to re-sign with us," Reds general manager Dan O'Brien said.

Lidle, 32, has pitched at least five innings in 22 of his 24 starts and has gone seven innings 10 times. He is 52-49 with a 4.56 ERA in seven major league seasons with the New York Mets, Tampa Bay, Oakland, Toronto and the Reds.

The right-hander was 1-5 with a 6.98 ERA in his last seven starts.

Philadelphia entered Monday 5½ games behind first-place Atlanta in the NL East and three games back of the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card race.

Moran, 21, was Philadelphia's fourth-round pick in the 2003 draft. He was batting .285 with two homers, 38 RBIss and 39 stolen bases for Class-A Lakewood in the South Atlantic League.

Wilson, 22, was selected by the Phillies in the 13th round of the 2003 draft. He was 4-7 with a 3.64 ERA in 19 starts and five relief appearances with Lakewood.

The Reds plan to assign both players to Class-A Dayton.

"We were very pleased to be able to add three quality players to our system," O'Brien said.

Lidle could be replaced on Cincinnati's roster Tuesday by pitcher John Riedling. He went on a seven-day bereavement leave last week following the death of his father.

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press

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