Catcher Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners are in agreement on a six-year, $105 million contract extension, sources told ESPN, tying the reigning Platinum Glove winner to the franchise that drafted him into the next decade.
The 28-year-old Raleigh, a third-round pick out of Florida State in 2018, is a defensive stalwart and power threat from both sides of the plate whose propensity for clutch hits has endeared him to Seattle fans.
The extension, which will start this season, buys out three years of free agency. Raleigh was scheduled to make $5.6 million as a first-time arbitration-eligible player this year.
Nicknamed "Big Dumper" because of his ample posterior, Raleigh took over full-time catching duties for the Mariners in 2022 and immediately asserted himself as one of the best catchers in baseball. He repeated his success in his second full season and improved even more in 2024, hitting .220/.312/.436 with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs.
Between Raleigh's arm and pitch-framing, he is regarded by evaluators as an elite defensive catcher -- and was rewarded with the American League Gold Glove as well as the Platinum Glove, awarded to the best defensive player at any position in each league.
Raleigh has emerged as a leader in the clubhouse for Seattle, which enters the 2025 season with hopes of winning the AL West for the first time since 2001. The Mariners broke a two-decade-long playoff drought in 2022 but missed the postseason in 2023 and 2024 despite winning 88 and 85 games, respectively.
While the Mariners have found success based around their homegrown starting pitching, the two long-term contracts they've given are to Raleigh and center fielder Julio Rodriguez, who is signed through 2029, with a player option that would cover 2030-34.
Seattle could have a long window of contention ahead if their farm system -- which is among the best in baseball -- continues to produce high-level talent. Led by shortstop Cole Emerson, the Mariners feature a variety of position-playing prospects as well as pitchers, including 2024 draft picks Jurrangelo Cijntje (a switch pitcher) and right-hander Ryan Sloan.