OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics acquired power-hitting outfielder Ron Gant from the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday for minor league outfielder Robin Jennings.
The deal, in the works for several days, puts another right-handed hitter in the A's slumping lineup. Oakland has lacked consistent production from that side of the plate, with often-injured John Jaha's retirement last week only adding to the woes.
Gant is expected to report to the A's in time for Wednesday's game against Anaheim.
Gant joins his seventh major league team and fourth in three years. He has averaged 26 homers over his last 10 seasons, and he has hit 20 or more homers seven times in his career.
He hit .257 with eight homers and 22 RBIs for the Rockies, who used him as a part-time starter in the outfield.
Gant signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Rockies in the offseason. The trade was held up for two days while the teams haggled over how much of Gant's remaining salary would be paid by Colorado.
Jennings, who signed with Oakland as a free agent last winter and made the team during training camp, hit just .250 with the A's this season. He was with Oakland's Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento at the time of the trade.
To clear a spot for Gant on the 40-man roster, Oakland designated minor league pitcher Eric Ireland for assignment.