Colorado Rockies: Looking at some of the trades from the Dan O’Dowd era

11/30/11–Traded Chris Iannetta to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Received Tyler Chatwood.

Even though the Rockies and Angels were a part of this trade, the Indians come into the equation again. The Angels general manager at the time was Jerry Dipoto, who wrapped up his pitching career with the Rockies in 2000 (and O’Dowd was already the Rockies GM). Also, DiPoto pitched in the Indians system from 1989 through 1994, when O’Dowd was with the organization. Once DiPoto retired from pitching, he became a special assistant to O’Dowd in the Rockies front office and later, he returned to the Rockies as head of scouting in 2005. So, the two had known each other for a long time prior to the deal and knew each other well.

Iannetta had done fairly well behind the plate for the Rockies but DiPoto liked what he saw out of Iannetta. He traded Tyler Chatwood to the Rockies for Iannetta.

Iannetta did well with the Angels as he averaged a 105 OPS+ in his four seasons there.

Chatwood often struggled with injuries and control issues but, after a rocky 2012 season, he had an ERA of an even 4.00 (119 ERA+) so, overall, he was pretty good in a Rockies uniform before leaving for the Cubs this season.

Also, on a tangent, Jerry DiPoto loves himself some Chris Iannetta. He acquired him in this trade and one of his first moves as Mariners GM in late 2015 was to sign him as a free agent. Iannetta was in first full season in pro ball when DiPoto returned to Colorado as head of scouting.