Rockies sign Iannetta to 2-year deal
Chris Iannetta is headed back to the Mile High City.
The free-agent catcher signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Rockies on Friday, marking a return to his original major-league club following a six-year absence.
Iannetta's deal is reportedly worth $8.5 million, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. It also reportedly contains a $5.25-million club option in 2020 ($750,000 buyout) that will automatically vest if he starts 220 games behind the plate over the next two seasons combined, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Iannetta spent the first six seasons of his career in Colorado and helped the Rockies reach the World Series in 2007 and the playoffs in '09. The former fourth-round pick's first Rockies tenure ended after the 2011 season, when he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels for Tyler Chatwood.
The 34-year-old spent 2017 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he put together one of the better seasons of his 12-year career. In just 89 games Iannetta hit .254/.354/.511 with 17 homers and 43 RBIs to help the D-Backs reach the playoffs while splitting catching duties with Jeff Mathis.
Colorado made use of multiple catchers last season, including midseason trade acquisition and current free agent Jonathan Lucroy. It's highly possible that Iannetta's contract means Lucroy won't be returning to Colorado following his brief two-month tenure with the club.
Iannetta owns a career slash line of .231/.347/.407 with 124 homers and 445 RBIs across his 12 big-league seasons with the Rockies, Diamondbacks, Angels, and Seattle Mariners.
HEADLINES
- Judge breaks McGwires record as fastest ever to 350 career HRs
- Ohtani pitches 3 scoreless innings against Giants
- Phillies enraged by Misiorowski's All-Star nod: 'F-----g terrible'
- Randy Moss: Jefferson on pace to be arguably greatest WR ever
- Yankees' Fried removed from start after 3 innings due to blister