Phillies fans must hope they don’t see a whole lot of this in 2008.

Now this is what a GM meeting is supposed to be like! Finally a blockbuster deal.

ESPN is reporting that the Phillies have added a new closer - and no, it isn’t Mariano Rivera. Four years after acquiring Billy Wagner from the Houston Astros, Philly has reeled in his replacement in Houston, trading for Astros closer Brad Lidge in a five-player swap.

Philly also receives infielder Eric Bruntlett, while sending outfielder Michael Bourn, right-hander Geoff Geary and minor league third baseman Mike Costanzo to Houston. The Astros intend to insert Bourn as their center fielder and leadoff hitter - a tall order for a kid with just 127 major league at-bats.

The move was a smart one for Philly. Faced with a paper-thin starting rotation and complete lack of viable options on the free agent or trade market, Lidge will now supplant Brett Myers as closer while Myers returns to a starting role.

ESPN.com’s Keith Law believes the Phils surrendered little more than “three spare parts” in the deal, and that Astros GM Ed Wade (fired from his post as Philadelphia GM in 2005) has “completely misread the market for relievers.” We tend to agree. Particularly if a change of scenery can help restore some of Lidge’s former dominance, this deal could go down as a steal.