Angels Sign Chris Iannetta For Three More Years

Via Twitter, MLB.com reporter Alden Gonzalez broke the news that the Angels have signed Catcher Chris Iannetta to a three year, $15.5 Million deal.

Alden reports that General Manager Jerry Dipoto told him that Hank Conger will be in the mix to compete for the backup catcher spot, but the status of Conger is now easily the most trade-likely Angels player. In less than a year at the helm, Dipoto has shown no signs of saving the home-cooking as his trade of Jean Segura to the Brewers for Zack Greinke revealed. The days of Bill Stoneman holding on to every Halo minor leaguer for a King's ransom are long gone.

Iannetta had a club-n-player mutual option for 2013 for $5 Million. That was torn up as part of the new contract.

Acquired from the Colorado Rockies for pitcher Tyler Chatwood last offseason, Iannetta was a massive improvement over the infamous battery-plague known as Jeff Mathis. With an OPS+ of 107 he was light years ahead of the Mathis franchise low OPS+ of 52. Iannetta caught Jered Weaver's no-hitter against the Twins in May but soon visited the disabled list with a wrist injury. That held him to appearing in only 79 games in 2012, but his contributions to the club on offense and behind the plate were exceptional, especially relative to what the post-Mike Napoli era had started off with.