SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners have finalized a lucrative six-year contract with catcher Cal Raleigh, worth $105 million. This agreement replaces the previous one-year deal of $5.6 million that was settled earlier this year to avoid salary arbitration.
Raleigh will receive a $10 million signing bonus once the contract receives approval from the MLB commissioner’s office. His annual salary structure begins with $1 million for the current year, with increases to $11 million in 2027, $12 million in 2028, followed by $23 million annually for the three subsequent years.
A unique aspect of Raleigh’s contract is a $20 million player option for the year 2031, which includes a $2 million buyout. This option becomes guaranteed if he catches at least 100 games in four different years from 2025 to 2030, with at least one instance in the final two seasons. Additionally, the value of this option increases by $3 million and the buyout by $1.5 million if Raleigh finishes as a finalist for the Gold Glove award and ranks in the top 10 for AL MVP voting in the same season twice. If he achieves these accolades in three different seasons, the option further escalates by an additional $2 million, with an extra $1.5 million added to the buyout.
Another key feature of Raleigh’s contract is a no-trade clause, ensuring his place in the Mariners’ lineup for the foreseeable future. At 28 years old, Raleigh was set to be eligible for arbitration following the 2025 and 2026 seasons and was on track for free agency post the 2027 World Series.
In his last season, Raleigh posted commendable numbers with career highs of 34 home runs and 100 RBIs, recording a batting average of .220. Over his four seasons with the Mariners, he has accumulated a .218 average, hitting 93 home runs and contributing 251 RBIs.