Report: Mariners, Raleigh finalizing 6-year, $105M extension
The Seattle Mariners are finalizing a six-year, $105-million contract extension with catcher Cal Raleigh, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.
The 28-year-old hit 34 home runs and 100 RBIs for the Mariners last season while winning the Gold Glove at his position. The deal is set to begin immediately and buy out three years of arbitration eligibility, Passan added.
Raleigh's new contract features a $20 million vesting player option for a seventh year in 2031, which is attached to a $2 million buyout, per Passan.
"Big Dumper" also gets a full no-trade clause as part of the extension, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Raleigh's 5.4 fWAR led all American League catchers in 2024 and tied him with Milwaukee Brewers All-Star William Contreras for the major-league lead at the position.
The 13.9 fWAR by Raleigh since 2022 is tops among all catchers.
Seattle's pitchers have thrived with Raleigh calling the shots behind the dish. Over the past two years its staff leads MLB in ERA (3.62), ranks second in FIP (3.81), and has the fifth-best fWAR (36.3).
The switch-hitter owns a career .740 OPS (112 OPS+) with 93 home runs.