Multiple reports confirmed that Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh agreed to a six-year, $105 million contract extension. This deal covers his next two years of arbitration and his first three years of free agency. This contract locks Raleigh with the Mariners until the 2030 season, with a player option for 2031.
Raleigh’s new contract also includes a no-trade clause and no deferrals. In addition to a $10 million signing bonus, he will earn a $1 million salary this season, $11 million in 2026, and $12 million in 2027. His salary then increases to $23 million annually from 2028 to 2030. Meanwhile, his vesting player option for 2031 will be worth $20 million with a corresponding $2 million buyout.
Cal Raleigh would have earned $5.6 million this season under his first year of arbitration. While that amount is a massive raise from his $795,000 last season, he will earn more due to his signing bonus.
It’s noteworthy that Raleigh agreed to his contract extension after switching agents from Scott Boras to Excel Sports Management. While Raleigh has signified his intention to sign an extension with the Mariners, Boras had a long-standing philosophy of pushing players to free agency.
With that issue over, the Mariners will retain a player who had the most home runs among catchers (91) since 2022. Raleigh is also a 2024 Gold Glove Winner who received votes for the American League Most Valuable Player award. Through five games of the 2025 MLB season, Raleigh has a career slash line of .217/.296/.442/.738 with 94 home runs and 253 RBIs.
-Lance Fernandez