As the Seattle Mariners gear up for the 2026 season, outfielder Randy Arozarena is looking to smooth things over with teammate Cal Raleigh after their World Baseball Classic (WBC) incident. With Opening Day just around the corner, Arozarena is eager to put the "handshake controversy" behind them.
For those who might have missed the buzz, the drama unfolded during the latter stages of the WBC. Cal Raleigh, representing Team USA, declined Arozarena's handshake at home plate while Arozarena played for Mexico.
The snub, reportedly a Team USA policy, sparked a viral reaction from Arozarena, who wasn't too pleased. Raleigh tried to downplay the situation afterward, but Arozarena initially remained tight-lipped, opting for some subtle social media commentary instead.
Upon returning to Mariners camp, Arozarena chose not to address the media directly, issuing a statement via the team's PR instead. Even the Savannah Bananas got in on the action, poking fun at the Mariners over the incident.
Now, Arozarena has released a new statement that seems to hit the right note. He expressed a desire to avoid distractions with the season's start imminent, stating that he and Raleigh have cleared the air.
"Cal and I have talked, and I apologized for what I said after the game," Arozarena shared. "Nothing in the WBC takes away from the fact that we are brothers and teammates.
He’s family, and we are both focused on helping the Mariners win the World Series."
While it might have been nice to hear Arozarena address the situation in person, the key takeaway is that both he and Raleigh have resolved their differences. With this statement, it's likely the duo won't need to revisit the incident when the team heads north for Opening Day.
The Mariners enjoyed a strong camaraderie in 2025, a factor that will be crucial for their success in 2026. Both Raleigh and Arozarena are pivotal to the team's plans, especially with Raleigh coming off a season where he led the MLB with 60 homers. Both players earned All-Star nods, underscoring their importance.
With three Cactus League games left, the Mariners are set to kick off their campaign against the Cleveland Guardians next Thursday. Fresh off a commanding 20-8 victory over the Guardians in spring training, the Mariners are poised to carry that momentum into the new season.