OAKLAND -- The Rangers as a team are hitting just .231/.288/.343 (.631 OPS) against left-handed pitching, entering Wednesday.

It¡¯s been a clear flaw in a team that reached a season-high five games over .500 after a win over the A¡¯s on Tuesday.

So general manager Chris Young addressed it quickly on Wednesday by acquiring veteran outfielder and former Ranger Robbie Grossman from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Minor League right-handed pitcher Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa.

To make room for Grossman on the 40-man roster, left-handed pitcher Kolton Ingram was designated for assignment.

The Rangers have three right-handed bats on the injured list right now: Josh Jung, Justin Foscue and Wyatt Langford, furthering the need for another bat to face lefties. Rookie outfielder Evan Carter has gone just 2-for-23 with a walk against left-handed pitchers this season.

¡°We really looked at it over the last couple of weeks and just seeing kind of what the lineup has done against left-handed pitching,¡± said Young. ¡°Then recognizing that we may need a right-handed bat. Then obviously with Wyatt going down, we think it became even more of a need right now.

¡°But this isn't just a stopgap while Wyatt is down. This is a player that we think can contribute all season long. He did last year, he was an important piece of our playoff team, he was hitting third in a playoff game. So he's a really, really good player, and we're excited to get him. We think he's gonna make a huge difference for us, not just on the field but in the clubhouse.¡±

Grossman, 34, has spent this season with the White Sox, batting .211 (15-for-71) with a .597 OPS, no home runs and four RBIs. The switch-hitter has gone 6-for-16 (.375) with two doubles, four walks, and four strikeouts against left-handed pitchers in 2024. Grossman had signed a Minor League free-agent deal with Chicago in the offseason.

Last year, Grossman batted .309 (34-for-110) with a .952 OPS, five home runs, 10 doubles and 23 walks against 32 strikeouts against left-handed pitching, posting the third-highest on-base percentage and sixth-highest OPS vs. lefties in the American League (minimum 100 plate appearances). The veteran is a career .283 hitter against left-handed pitching with an .810 OPS.

Grossman had made 20 appearances for the White Sox this season in right field (14), left field (five) and designated hitter (one). Last year with the Rangers, he slashed.238/.340/.394/.734 (84-353) with 10 home runs, 23 doubles and 49 RBIs over 115 games in his first season with Texas.

He started 99 of the team¡¯s 162 games in left field (39), designated hitter (36) and right field (24). He drew walks in 13.6% of his plate appearances for the season and appeared in seven games during the Rangers¡¯ postseason run to the 2023 World Series title.

¡°This [trade] is about our team in general and just the way that we just haven't hit left-handers very well,¡± Young emphasized. ¡°Without Josh Jung, Josh isn't going to be back for another at least six or seven weeks, so we felt like this was a great way to provide a little stability and then help the lineup. ¡­ This is about making the Rangers better.¡±

Grossman, for what it¡¯s worth, is more than happy to be back.

¡°When I got the call last night, I was surprised, but I'm so fortunate to be here and around all these guys again,¡± he said. ¡° [I¡¯m excited to] see everyone. The reception I got when I got here makes you feel good. This uniform will always have a special place in my heart, obviously because of what happened last year. This is a new year right now, and I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡±