Read more: Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chris Iannetta, Angels get Iannetta, Angels Trade for Iannetta, Rockies Trade Iannetta, Tyler Chatwood, Chatwood Traded to Rockies, Rockies get Chatwood, Angels Trade Chatwood, Iannetta Traded, Pro, MLB

ANAHEIM, CALIF. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels have acquired catcher Chris Iannetta from the Colorado Rockies in a trade for right-hander Tyler Chatwood.

The Angels dealt a top pitching prospect Wednesday to acquire Iannetta, the latest candidate to solve the club’s catching woes.

Iannetta batted .238 last season with 14 homers, 55 RBIs and a .370 on-base percentage, second among NL catchers. He also made just two errors in 112 games during his sixth season with Colorado.

The Angels struggled to get even meager offense behind the plate last season after trading slugger Mike Napoli. Jeff Mathis, Bobby Wilson and Hank Conger provided solid defense, but had miserable seasons at the plate, none batting above .209.

Chatwood went 6-11 with a 4.75 ERA as a rookie, slumping down the stretch after spending much of last season as the Angels’ fifth starter.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Read More: Ramon Hernandez (C – CIN), Chris Iannetta (C – COL), Tyler Chatwood (P – ANA), Los Angeles Angels, Colorado Rockies

We’ve been getting a wave of reports over the past hour or so, but things have come together quickly recently. The Colorado Rockies recently announced on their official Twitter feed that they’ve traded catcher Chris Iannetta to the Los Angeles Angels for pitcher Tyler Chatwood, confirming previous reports.

Iannetta is expected to become the primary catcher in Los Angeles, while Chatwood gives the Rockies depth at the back of their rotation. It’s worth noting that Iannetta’s 2013 club option is voided by this trade, though, so he’s essentially going to the Angels for one year at $3.5 million, which is obviously a bargain for a catcher of his caliber.

As for Ramon Hernandez, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports is reporting that he’ll be receiving a two-year, $6.5 million deal from Colorado. The general reaction appears to be pretty positive to the deal given how well Hernandez has played lately, as well as the bloated contracts handed out to the likes of Juan Rivera and Willie Bloomquist so far this offseason. 

This appears to be a pretty solid switch for the Rockies. Colorado likely views Hernandez as similar in quality to Iannetta, so in this situation they essentially replace the latter with the former over the next two years and happen to add a quality young pitcher, Chatwood, in the process. 

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Read More: Chris Iannetta (C – COL), Tyler Chatwood (P – ANA), Los Angeles Angels, Colorado Rockies

We had already received word that the Los Angeles Angels might be interested in Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta, and now Troy Renck of the Denver Post is reporting that the Rockies and Angels have spoken regarding the catcher. Renck also adds that the Rockies asked the Angels about starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood, indicating that they may be seeking young, MLB-ready pitching in exchange for Iannetta.

Chatwood, 22 in December, was considered one of the Angels’ top prospects before the 2011 season, and he ended up making 25 starts for LA. His performance wasn’t great, though, as he posted a 4.75 ERA over 142 innings with defense-independent statistics like FIP and SIERA closer to 5. His fastball averaged 93 MPH, but he really struggled with missing bats and ended up striking out only 74 guys compared to doling out 71 walks. That strikeout-to-walk ratio was actually the worst among all MLB pitchers with over 140 innings thrown in 2011.

But even with those struggles, Chatwood is an intriguing young pitcher. He’s avoided injuries, pitching 160 innings in 2011 on the heels of pitching 155 innings in 2010. He still throws quite hard, as only 17 starters threw harder on average than him last season. And he’s still going to pitch the entire 2012 season at the tender age of 22, meaning that he could still show some serious improvement over the next couple years.

For more coverage of all things Denver sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage of the Rockies, visit Purple Row. For more updates on the MLB Hot Stove, check out Baseball Nation.

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies don’t expect Esmil Rogers to replace Ubaldo Jimenez. So far, though, he has been a solid fill-in.

Troy Tulowitzki homered among his three hits, Rogers pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the Rockies beat the Washington Nationals 6-3 on Thursday night.

Ty Wigginton and Chris Nelson had two hits each for the Rockies, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

Rogers took Jimenez’s spot in the rotation when the ace was traded to Cleveland on Saturday. His new role started when Jimenez left that game against San Diego after giving up four runs in the first inning. Rogers threw five innings of one-run ball in a game Colorado came back to win 8-5.

“It’s sad that he left but it opened up an opportunity for me,” Rogers said.

Things didn’t start well Thursday but he settled down to keep the Rockies in the game against Washington. He allowed one run and seven hits, walked two and struck out six in 5 2-3 innings. He gave up a run in the first and had multiple baserunners in the third, fifth and sixth. He left after pinch-hitter Alex Cora’s single with two outs in the sixth put runners on the corners. Matt Reynolds struck out Rick Ankiel to end the inning.

“He started slow but when you looked up in the fifth inning and see he threw 74 strikes, when you’re pitching that aggressively, you’re going to get people out,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.

The Nationals felt they missed their chances to get to Rogers early.

“I felt like we left him off the hook numerous times,” Washington manager Davey Johnson said. “He’s got a good arm but he made a lot of bad pitches and we just didn’t capitalize.”

Rogers (5-1) threw 29 pitches in the first inning but he was able to go deep enough into the game to give the Rockies’ tired bullpen a breather.

“He pitched great in San Diego and he tried to build off that, and he did to a point,” catcher Chris Iannetta said. “He did a really good job there were just few pitches he probably wishes he had back.”

He stayed in long enough for the Rockies to take a lead in the fifth. Iannetta led off with a double, moved to third on Rogers’ sacrifice bunt and scored on Eric Young Jr.’s single to center to make it 2-1.

Tulowitzki made it 3-1 when he led off the sixth with his 21st homer of the year off reliever Collin Balester.

The Rockies broke it open in the eighth when reliever Ryan Mattheus walked Nelson and Young and hit Iannetta with the bases loaded to make it 6-1.

Ryan Zimmerman’s two-run double in the ninth made it 6-3.

Zimmerman had three hits and Michael Morse, Wilson Ramos and Ankiel had two hits each for the Nationals.

Washington starter Ross Detwiler cruised through the first three innings before running into trouble in the fourth. Helton drew a one-out walk, moved to second on Tulowitzki’s single — Colorado’s first hit of the game — and scored on a single by Wigginton to tie it 1-1.

Detwiler escaped further trouble when right fielder Jayson Werth threw out Tulowitzki at home when he tried to score on Nelson’s single.

Detwiler (1-1) gave up two runs and five hits, walked three and struck out one in five innings. It was his second start of the season and his first after five relief appearances.

“I started walking people and was leaving the ball up a little bit,” Detwiler said. “They were able to get under it and put it in the outfield.”

The Nationals took a 1-0 lead in the first. Ankiel led off with a single, Zimmerman drew a one-out walk and Morse singled to center.

Notes: Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his first of four rehab appearance on Sunday with Class A Hagerstown. The plan is for him to throw one or two innings. The Nationals hope he can return to the rotation in September, a year after having Tommy John surgery. .. Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez (right wrist strain) was scheduled to play in a doubleheader for Triple-A Colorado Springs on Thursday. Gonzalez has been on the 15-day DL since July 22. … Nationals C Ivan Rodriguez (right oblique strain) had a setback and will see Dr. Bill Meyers in Philadelphia instead of possibly beginning a rehab assignment this weekend. Rodriguez, 39, has been on the DL since July 7. … Juan Nicasio will start Friday for Colorado in the second game of the series. The Rockies are 6-0 in his starts at Coors Field and Nicasio is 4-0 with a 1.58 ERA in those outings. He will face righty Jordan Zimmerman, who is 0-1 in four road starts since June 12 despite not giving up an earned run in three of those games. … Zimmerman extended his hit streak to 13 games. … Nelson has seven multi-hit games this season.

DENVER — The Colorado Rockies don’t expect Esmil Rogers to replace Ubaldo Jimenez. So far, though, he has been a solid fill-in.

Troy Tulowitzki homered among his three hits, Rogers pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the Rockies beat the Washington Nationals 6-3 on Thursday night.

Ty Wigginton and Chris Nelson had two hits each for the Rockies, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

Rogers took Jimenez’s spot in the rotation when the ace was traded to Cleveland on Saturday. His new role started when Jimenez left that game against San Diego after giving up four runs in the first inning. Rogers threw five innings of one-run ball in a game Colorado came back to win 8-5.

“It’s sad that he left but it opened up an opportunity for me,” Rogers said.

Things didn’t start well Thursday but he settled down to keep the Rockies in the game against Washington. He allowed one run and seven hits, walked two and struck out six in 52/3 innings. He gave up a run in the first and had multiple baserunners in the third, fifth and sixth. He left after pinch-hitter Alex Cora’s single with two outs in the sixth put runners on thecorners. Matt Reynolds struck out Rick Ankiel to end the inning.

“He started slow but when you looked up in the fifth inning and see he threw 74 strikes, when you’re pitching that aggressively, you’re going to get people out,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.

The Nationals felt they missed their chances to get to Rogers early.

“I felt like we left him off the hook numerous times,” Washington manager Davey Johnson said. “He’s got a good arm but he made a lot of bad pitches and we just didn’t capitalize.”

Rogers (5-1) threw 29 pitches in the first inning but he was able to go deep enough into the game to give the Rockies’ tired bullpen a break.

“He pitched great in San Diego and he tried to build off that, and he did to a point,” catcher Chris Iannetta said. “He did a really good job, there were just few pitches he probably wishes he had back.”

He stayed in long enough for the Rockies to take a lead in the fifth. Iannetta led off with a double, moved to third on Rogers’ sacrifice bunt and scored on Eric Young Jr.’s single to center to make it 2-1.

Tulowitzki made it 3-1 when he led off the sixth with his 21st homer of the year off reliever Collin Balester.

The Rockies broke it open in the eighth when reliever Ryan Mattheus walked Nelson and Young and hit Iannetta with the bases loaded to make it 6-1.

Ryan Zimmerman’s two-run double in the ninth made it 6-3.

Zimmerman had three hits and Michael Morse, Wilson Ramos and Ankiel had two hits each for the Nationals.

Washington starter Ross Detwiler cruised through the first three innings before running into trouble in the fourth. Helton drew a one-out walk, moved to second on Tulowitzki’s single — Colorado’s first hit of the game — and scored on a single by Wigginton to tie it 1-1.

Detwiler escaped further trouble when right fielder Jayson Werth threw out Tulowitzki at home as he tried to score on Nelson’s single.

Detwiler (1-1) gave up two runs and five hits, walked three and struck out one in five innings. It was his second start of the season and his first after five relief appearances.

“I started walking people and was leaving the ball up a little bit,” Detwiler said. “They were able to get under it and put it in the outfield.”

The Nationals took a 1-0 lead in the first. Ankiel led off with a single, Zimmerman drew a one-out walk and Morse singled to center.

Notable

Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez (right wrist strain) was scheduled to play in a doubleheader for Triple-A Colorado Springs on Thursday. … Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his first of four rehab appearance on Sunday with Class A Hagerstown. The plan is for him to throw one or two innings. The Nationals hope he can return to the rotation in September, a year after having Tommy John surgery. … Nationals C Ivan Rodriguez (right oblique strain) had a setback and will see Dr. Bill Meyers in Philadelphia instead of possibly beginning a rehab assignment this weekend. … Juan Nicasio will start today for Colorado in the second game of the series. The Rockies are 6-0 in his starts at Coors Field and Nicasio is 4-0 with a 1.58 ERA in those outings. He will face righty Jordan Zimmerman, who is 0-1 in four road starts since June 12 despite not giving up an earned run in three of those games.

Rockies upcoming

Read More: Chris Iannetta (C – COL), Wilin Rosario (C – COL), Colorado Rockies

The Denver Post‘s Troy Renck reports that the Colorado Rockies could move catcher Chris Iannetta as part of a plan to call up top prospect Wilin Rosario. Trade rumors about Iannetta first appeared last week, indicating that the Cleveland Indians and the Pittsburgh Pirates were interested. Renck throws out the San Francisco Giants as possible destination since it would help a division rival.

Renck seems certain that the Rockies will have Rosario on the roster at some point:

It would surprise no one if Rosario joins the Rockies on Aug. 1 or soon thereafter. He has enjoyed decent success in Double-A Tulsa, hitting .260 with 16 home runs and 36 RBIs. More importantly, he’s improved defensively and had no setbacks with his surgically repaired right knee.

Rosario did miss the second half of the 2010 season after injuring his knee, preventing a 2010 call up.

Renck also runs down some more information on Ubaldo Jimenez, stating that the Rockies do want that “Herschel Walker-type deal” he originally reported and that teams are balking at giving up three top prospects for him.

At this point, the Rockies are more likely to trade pieces such as Chris Iannetta, Ty Wigginton, Ryan Spilborghs or Eric Young Jr. We have a week to see if any of those players move.

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