Cal Raleigh, Mariners agree to nine-figure contract extension
Cal Raleigh’s staying in Seattle for the long haul.
The Mariners inked their star catcher to a six-year, $105 million contract extension, the team announced Wednesday, keeping the 2024 AL Platinum Glove Winner in a Seattle uniform through the 2030 season.
The deal includes Raleigh’s arbitration years (2025-2027) and buys out three years of free agency, pairing Seattle’s foundational defender alongside outfielder Julio Rodriguez for the remainder of the decade.
“This place has always felt like home since I arrived here in Seattle,” Raleigh said in Wednesday’s release. “They took me in from day one with kindness and respect and it is one of the top places to play in professional sports.
“I wanted to stay here because of the connection with the people of the Pacific Northwest and the Seattle Mariners, but I know it doesn’t always work out the way you want it to. I feel blessed that the Mariners gave me this opportunity and I can’t think of a better place in MLB to call home. We have a great nucleus of players here and aren’t far off from bringing the World Series to Seattle. It won’t be easy but I believe ownership and management share the same vision and commitment.
“I won’t stop working and I won’t stop grinding until this city gets what it deserves, and that is a perennial playoff team and a World Series Championship.”
Raleigh receives a $10 million signing bonus and $1 million salary in 2025, escalating to $23 million for each of the 2028-2030 seasons. Raleigh also gets a $20 million vesting player option in 2031 with a $2 million buyout.
“Big Dumper” helped snap Seattle’s 21-year postseason drought with a walk-off home run that clinched a playoff berth against Oakland’s Domingo Acevedo on the night of Sept. 30, 2022, now considered one of the most iconic swings in franchise history.
In 2024, the switch-hitting backstop paced AL catchers in FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement (fWAR, 5.4) and Baseball Reference Wins Above Replacement (bWAR, 4.6). He led all major league catchers in caught stealing (26) and paced the Mariners in plate appearances (628), games played (153), and RBI (100).
In 464 career games spanning four major league seasons with the Mariners (2021-2024), Raleigh has slashed .218/.296/.444 with 93 home runs and 251 RBI. His 93 homers are the most by any Mariners player through four career seasons in team history.
“Cal embodies all of the best qualities of our organization,” Mariners General Manager of Baseball Operations Justin Hollander said. “A homegrown superstar, he has made a huge impact on the field, in our clubhouse and our community. We are thrilled Cal is a Mariner and excited that we reached an agreement that keeps him in our uniform for years to come!”
This story was originally published March 25, 2025 at 2:52 PM.
