A Win For Everyone: Mariners Sign Cal Raleigh to $105 Million Extension
Kansas City, MO, USA. 7th June, 2024. Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. David Smith/CSM/Alamy Live News
The Mariners did not have the most exciting offseason, as they essentially brought back the same roster from the disappointing 2024 campaign.
The good news is it appears that they’ll be bringing back one of the best — and certainly one of the most popular — players for the foreseeable future.
Here’s a look at why this is a win for Raleigh, a win for the Mariners, and a win for fans of both.
Why it’s a win for the Mariners
The Mariners selected Raleigh with a third-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Florida State, and he quickly established himself as the potential catcher of the future, even if prospect aficionados weren’t exactly showering him with praise. He struggled in his initial first tastes of MLB action, but since being recalled in 2023 to replace an injured Tom Murphy, he’s become one of the best backstops in baseball. He’s forged an OPS of .760 in his three seasons as a starter — an OPS+ of 118, with 100 being average — and he’s smashed 91 homers, including the round-tripper that clinched a spot in the postseason for Seattle in 2021.
So, it should go without saying this is a victory for the Mariners. The deal delays Raleigh from leaving Seattle for at least six years and keeps him in whatever uniform combination Seattle uses through the prime of his career. Just going by Wins Above Replacement (WAR), Raleigh has been worth 13.9 wins according to FanGraphs. That’s more than any catcher in baseball, just ahead of Adley Rutschman at 13.5. To keep that type of player through what should be his best seasons — even acknowledging some volatility because he’s behind the plate so often — at a salary below $20 million a year is significant.
It’s also a great PR move for Seattle at a time when the Mariners could use it. Seattle has received plenty of flack for their lack of offseason moves, and the fact that Opening Day hasn’t sold out suggests that fans are putting their money where their mouth is. A move like this shows more commitment to winning than they’ve shown since the deadline for 2025 and beyond. The fact this extension got done two days before that opener isn’t likely to be coincidental.
Why it’s a win for Raleigh
Raleigh was set to make $5.6 million in 2025 before the extension — a large amount of money for the overwhelming majority of humans, but a pittance of what he will now make, and to be blunt, a pittance of what he deserves. He would have been arbitration-eligible again in 2026 and 2027 before finally being able to hit free agency in 2028.
Simply put, this mitigates risk for Raleigh. Catchers do not have a long lifespan in general, and while it’s very possible he’d get a larger deal if he were to test the free-agent waters, there’s also a chance that he’s not the same player by the time that comes around.
It’s also pretty clear Raleigh has become attached to this organization, so he gets to spend at least the next six seasons in a place he loves and is loved. He gets a no-trade clause, so he’ll get to control where he plays for over half a decade. And, it’s worth pointing out there’s very likely to be a lockout in 2026. With Raleigh’s extension containing guaranteed money, his deal won’t be at risk with a potential salary cap, as unlikely as it is there ever will be one in Major League Baseball.
Why it’s a win for fans
I have covered the Mariners for the better part of 15 years, and have been a fan of them since I was born in (redacted). Over that time I’ve heard people say negative things about some of not just the best players in Mariners history, but in baseball’s long storied past. Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki, Felix Hernandez, Randy Johnson, Julio Rodriguez, even Edgar Martinez; I’ve heard someone at some point try and paint a negative picture of that player.
I’ve never heard something overtly negative about Raleigh. He’s quickly become one of the most beloved players in the organization and is rising the ranks of the most popular players to ever don a Seattle uniform. Fans have quickly recognized how good he is behind the plate, at the plate and in the locker room, and the amount of positive posts I’ve seen about this on social media compete with any I’ve seen regarding a Seattle transaction.
Mariners fans have had to put up with a lot of bad in the past; both recent and beyond. Signing Raleigh to remain a Seattle Mariner for the better part of a decade is a rare glimmer of hope. All parties involved should be thrilled. I sure arm.