Colorado Rockies bring back best catcher in franchise history

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX, the Colorado Rockies have signed free-agent catcher Chris Iannetta to a two-year deal.

Jon Heyman of FanRagSports reports the two-year deal is for $ 8.5 million total.

Iannetta played for the Rockies from 2006-2011 where he appeared in 458 games slashing .235/.357/.430 while providing adequate defense behind the plate on two separate playoff teams.

Since last playing for the Rockies, he has played for Los Angeles (AL), Seattle and Arizona.

This past season for the D-Backs he accumulated 1.8 rWAR/2.2 fWAR over 89 games. The now 34-year-old OPS’d .865 in 2017, his best since 2008.

His defense has always been a plus over the course of his career and he fills a huge hole vacated by trade deadline acquisition Jonathan Lucroy who is now a free agent. Iannetta joins Tony Wolters and Tom Murphy as the only catchers with big league experience on the Rockies roster.

Because Iannetta’s deal is rather small, Colorado may not be done making moves behind the plate. The right-handed batter has hit lefties better over the course of his career but with his age and the fact that he’s never played more than 115 games in a season, it seems likely that the Rockies will either entrust Wolters with a lot or hit the market.

The Rockies initially traded Iannetta to the Los Angeles Angels for Tyler Chatwood, who signed with the Chicago Cubs yesterday.

Iannetta is arguably the best backstop in club history, playing the most games at the position and accumulating the most WAR.