The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA - All-Star closer Billy Wagner was traded Monday from the Houston Astros to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Philadelphia sent Houston right-hander Brandon Duckworth, and minor league right-handers Taylor Buchholz and Ezequiel Astacio.

Wagner, a three-time All-Star, goes from one of baseball's best bullpens to among its worst.

"He's one of the most dominant closers in baseball," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "He's right up there with Eric Gagne and John Smoltz in that when he comes into the game, it's over."

Wagner was 1-4 with a 1.78 ERA last season and had 44 saves in 47 chances, making a career-high 78 appearances. Philadelphia's bullpen converted just 33 saves in 51 opportunities as Jose Mesa and Mike Williams both faltered.

"When we met with our pro scouts and staff in Clearwater three weeks ago, we prioritized our needs and decided that the closer should be at the top of the list," Phillies general manager Ed Wade said.

Wagner, 32, is due to make $8 million next season, the third in a $27 million, three-year contract he agreed to in January 2002. The deal contains a $9 million team option for 2005 with a $3 million buyout.

"I'm excited about coming to Philadelphia because they obviously have made a commitment to winning a championship," Wagner said.

Octavio Dotel is likely to assume the closer's job, with Brad Lidge in line to replace Dotel as the setup man. Dotel was acquired in another salary motivated deal that sent pitcher Mike Hampton to the Mets after the 1999 season.

Dotel was 6-4 with a 2.48 ERA and four saves last season, and has 28 career saves.

"He's got the makeup to be the closer," Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker said.

Duckworth, 27, was 4-7 with a 4.94 ERA in 18 starts and six relief appearances.

WHITE SOX: Ozzie Guillen is back with Chicago, this time as the team's manager.

The three-time All-Star shortstop was hired Monday to replace Jerry Manuel, who was fired Sept. 29 after the White Sox failed to reach the playoffs for the second straight year.

Guillen has no managerial experience and has spent the past two seasons as the third-base coach for the Florida Marlins.

"He bleeds White Sox baseball," general manager Ken Williams said. "There is no doubt in my mind that he is going to provide something here we desperately need. A jolt, if you will."

CARDINALS: The team declined options Monday on Gold Glove second baseman Fernando Vina, left-hander Jeff Fassero and right-hander Chris Carpenter.

Vina, who missed much of the season due to a hamstring injury, gets a $1 million buyout instead of a $4.5 million salary. Fassero gets $250,000 rather than $1.5 million, and Carpenter gets $200,000 instead of $2 million.

SHORT HOPS: Catcher Ivan Rodriguez filed for free agency Monday, nine days after helping Florida win the World Series.

He hit .297 with 16 homers and 85 RBI during the season, then batted .313 with three homers and 17 RBI in the postseason. He was voted MVP of the NLCS.

• Former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine returned to Japanese baseball Monday, signing a three-year deal with the Lotte Marines. "This was just the right thing to do at this point in my life," the 53-year-old manager said.

• Don Mattingly is returning to the New York Yankees. A six-time All-Star who was the team's captain from 1991 until his retirement in 1995, Mattingly was persuaded by owner George Steinbrenner to become the team's hitting coach.

Mattingly's hiring was disclosed by a baseball official. A news conference is expected today.