PITTSBURGH -- All-Star reliever Mike Williams was traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates back to the Phillies on Sunday in a deal that upgrades Philadelphia's bullpen for the stretch run.

Williams, who made the NL All-Star team despite an ERA above 6.00, welcomed a deal he predicts will be the first of several the Pirates make before the July 31 trading deadline.

"I expected this, no doubt," said Williams, who was half-dressed for Sunday's Brewers-Pirates game when he was called into manager Lloyd McClendon's office. "I know trades are coming and I'm not going to be the only one. I'm not disappointed at all."

For Williams, the Pirates get a marginal prospect in left-hander Frank Brooks, who was 3-4 with nine saves and a 2.30 ERA in 34 relief appearances at Double-A Reading. He was recently promoted to Triple-A Wilkes-Barre-Scranton. The Phillies also received some cash.

The deal was the second by the Pirates involving Williams in three seasons. They dealt him to Houston in July 2001, but he re-signed with the Pirates after that season and went on to convert a club-record 46 of 50 save opportunities last season. He ranked third among all major league relievers in saves behind the Braves' John Smoltz (55) and the Dodgers' Eric Gagne (52)

The right-handed Williams, who turns 35 on July 29, has 25 saves in 30 opportunities this season but has an unusually high 6.27 ERA -- the highest ever for an All-Star reliever. With Jose Mesa serving as the Phillies' closer, Williams likely will return to the setup role he had with the Astros in 2001.

"I'm going to have a chance to get into the playoffs, and that's what it's all about,'' Williams said. "That's where I started (in Philadelphia).'"

Williams was a starter when he broke in with the Phillies in 1992 but didn't re-sign with them after going 6-14 with a 5.44 ERA in 1996. He later pitched for the Royals before signing with Pittsburgh in 1997 as a minor league free agent.

Williams was 13-25 in 99 games (54 starts) for Philadelphia from 1992-96.

The Pirates held a $4 million club option on Williams for 2004 or could have bought out his contract for $1.5 million.

For now, the Pirates will use a mix of relievers in the closer's role, though minor leaguer Duaner Sanchez could be ready to move into that role.

With the Pirates apparently headed toward a 11th consecutive losing season, general manager Dave Littlefield likely will be busy for the next 10 days. Among the Pirates prominently mentioned in trade talks are outfielders Kenny Lofton and Reggie Sanders and pitchers Jeff Suppan, Scott Sauerbeck and Kris Benson.

Outfielder Brian Giles also has been the subject of trade rumors, although Littlefield has said he will demand a significant return for one of the majors' most consistent hitters.

Despite McClendon's season-long predictions the Pirates would be a contender in the NL Central, they were 10 games under .500 going into Sunday's game against the Brewers, and Littlefield appears unwilling to stay with the current mix of players.

"We're not showing signs like we're moving into the direction toward being a contender," Littlefield said. "I've got to be realistic about where we are. This is a club that hasn't won for 10 years and is 10 games under .500."

The trade was the first between the cross-state teams since Philadelphia acquired Wes Chamberlain, Julio Peguero and Tony Longmire for Carmelo Martinez on August 30, 1990. That deal followed a waiver wire error by Pirates GM Larry Doughty that inadvertently left Chamberlain and Longmire exposed for a team to claim.