Raleigh is coming off a 2024 in which he hit 34 home runs and won the AL Gold Glove and Platinum Glove Awards
SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Justin Hollander announced today the Mariners have extended catcher Cal Raleigh to a 6-year contract through the 2030 season, with a vesting player option for 2031.
“Cal is central to so much of what we do as a team,” Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto said. “His leadership on the field combined with elite defense and impact offense is rare among catchers in the game. We are fortunate that he’s a Mariner and thrilled that he’s here for the long haul.”
“Cal embodies all of the best qualities of our organization,” Mariners EVP & 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 place has always felt like home since I arrived here in Seattle. They took me in from day one with kindness and respect and it is one of the top places to play in professional sports,” Cal Raleigh said. “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 (rah-lee), 28, has solidified himself as one of the best all-around catchers in Major League Baseball through his first four seasons with the Mariners. In 2024, Raleigh tallied 34 home runs and 100 RBI, won the Rawlings American Gold Glove Award and AL Platinum Glove Award as the best defensive player in the league.
Raleigh has led Major League catchers in home runs in three consecutive seasons, hitting 27, 30 and 34 homers in each of the last three seasons, respectively. He is the first catcher to accomplish that feat since Hall of Famer Mike Piazza. Additionally, Raleigh has led MLB catchers in catcher caught stealing in back-to-back seasons, becoming the third catcher since CCS was tracked in 1974 to lead in back-to-back years, joining Jim Sundberg and Hall of Famer Gary Carter.
In 2024, Raleigh became the first catcher in Mariners history to win a Gold Glove Award, and the first Mariners player at any position to win the Platinum Glove Award. Cal led AL catchers in innings caught (1122.0), catcher framing runs (13), defensive runs saved (16), catcher caught stealing (26) and catcher’s ERA (3.30) in his journey to going Platinum.
Raleigh led the Mariners in games played (153), plate appearances (628), home runs (34), RBI (100), extra-base hits (50) and total bases (238) last season.
As one of the best power bats and defensive players in the Majors, Cal’s switch-hitting prowess has also put him in the history books. He has homered from both sides of the plate three times in his career, and twice last season in a three-game span, becoming the fourth player in MLB history to do that, joining Hall of Famer Eddie Murray, Ken Caminiti and Jeff DaVanon.
Through four seasons, Raleigh’s 93 career home runs are the most homers hit by a catcher through a player’s first four seasons in MLB history. The 93 homers are also most by a Mariners player through their first four career seasons, surpassing Mr. Mariner Alvin Davis’ 92 home runs from 1984–87.
Raleigh etched his name in Mariners lore on Sept. 30, 2022, when his pinch-hit, walk-off home run clinched a Postseason spot for Seattle, its first playoff berth since 2001.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound backstop was originally selected by the Mariners in the 3rd round of the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Florida State University, making his big league debut on July 11, 2021. He was born in Cullowhee, North Carolina and attended Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva, NC. Raleigh is the son of Stephanie and Todd Raleigh. Todd was the head baseball coach at Western Carolina University (2000–07) and the University of Tennessee (2008–11).
