COLORADO SIGNS CATCHER IANNETTA
Catcher, 34, receives two-year, $8.5M deal
Chris Iannetta will be back in purple pinstripes next season. The Rockies signed the free-agent veteran catcher to a two-year contract worth $8.5 million. Jonathan Lucroy, who thrived for the Rockies last season, remains a free agent. It seems unlikely Colorado will continue its pursuit of Lucroy.
Veteran catcher Chris Iannetta is returning to the Rockies. The free agent agreed to a two-year, $8.5 million contract Friday.
Iannetta, who turns 35 on April 8, batted .254 with 17 home runs and 43 RBIs in 89 games for Arizona this year. The Rockies hope he can provide a veteran presence behind the plate to match up with their young pitching staff.
Jonathan Lucroy, who thrived for the Rockies last season after being acquired from Texas at the trade deadline, remains on the free-agent market. Now that the Rockies have signed Iannetta, it seems unlikely the Rockies will continue their pursuit of Lucroy. However, general manager Jeff Bridich said he wasn’t ready to comment on Lucroy at this time.
Iannetta split time behind the plate with the Diamondbacks last season, and the Rockies also have young catchers Tony Wolters and Tom Murphy on their roster, so it remains to be seen how playing time will be divided.
“Our catchers will likely always have to do some sort of time share behind the plate, so the starter/backup really doesn’t matter,” Bridich said.
Iannetta played parts of six seasons for Colorado from 2006-11. He was selected by the Rockies in the fourth round of the 2004 draft out of the University of North Carolina. He made his big-league debut Aug. 27, 2006, against San Diego.
During his initial stint with the Rockies, Iannetta played in 458 games and batted .235 with 196 runs scored, 63 home runs, 72 doubles, nine triples and 236 RBIs. He had a 21.1 percent caughtstealing mark with Colorado.
Over his career, Iannetta has batted .231 with 393 runs, 124 home runs, 158 doubles, 10 triples and 445 RBIs. He has a career 20.6 caught-stealing percentage.