Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta (20) celebrates a home run against the New york Mets on May 9, 2011. (Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
He's back.
The Rockies and veteran catcher Chris Iannetta agreed to a two-year contract, marking Iannetta's return to the organization with which he began his Major League career.
Iannetta was with the Rockies from 2006-2011. The Rockies originally selected him out of the University of North Carolina in the fourth round of the 2004 amateur draft.
After the 2012 season, the Rockies traded Iannetta to the Angels in exchange for pitcher Tyler Chatwood, who just signed a free agent deal with the Cubs.
After four years with the Angels, Iannetta spent 2016 with the Mariners and was with the Diamondbacks last season. In 89 games with the D'backs, Iannetta hit .254 with 17 home runs and 43 RBIs.
Iannetta gives the Rockies a veteran catcher who will work well with their young pitching staff.
MORE ON THE IANNETTA SIGNING HERE
COLORADO ROCKIES AGREE TO TWO-YEAR CONTRACT WITH CATCHER CHRIS IANNETTA
DENVER – The Colorado Rockies announced Friday that they have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with free-agent catcher Chris Iannetta.
- Iannetta, 34, will be making his second stint as a member of the Colorado Rockies, having played parts of six seasons for Colorado from 2006-11. He was originally selected by Colorado in the fourth round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of North Carolina and made his Major League debut for the Rockies on August 27, 2006 vs. San Diego.
- The Providence, R.I., native signed a one-year contract with Arizona on January 13 and batted .254 (69-for-272) with 38 runs, 19 doubles, 17 home runs, 43 RBI, 37 walks and 87 strikeouts in 89 games with 70 starts this past season with a 19.4 caught stealing percentage (25 SB, 6 CS). He played in two games in the 2017 National League Division Series vs. Los Angeles-NL.
- Over parts of 12 seasons with Colorado, Los Angeles-AL, Seattle and Arizona, has batted .231 (721-for-3,120) with 393 runs, 158 doubles, 10 triples, 124 home runs, 445 RBI, 11 stolen bases, 508 walks and 883 strikeouts. He has a career 20.6 caught stealing percentage (540 SB, 140 CS). Among all catchers since 2006, ranks seventh in home runs, 10th in RBI, third in walks and fifth in on-base percentage (.347).
- In his first stint with the Rockies, played 458 games and batted .235 (336-for-1,429) with 196 runs scored, 72 doubles, nine triples, 63 home runs, 236 RBI, seven stolen bases, 241 walks and 379 strikeouts with a 21.1 caught stealing percentage (247 SB, 66 CS). On Nov. 30, 2011, he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in exchange for right-handed pitcher Tyler Chatwood.
The Rockies currently have 38 players on their 40-man roster.