Raleigh and Arozarena WBC Incident Sparks Clubhouse Concerns for Mariners

The Seattle Mariners may face some internal tension as spring training approaches, following a contentious exchange between teammates Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena during the World Baseball Classic. The incident, which occurred on March 9, 2026, involved Raleigh declining a handshake from Arozarena before an at-bat in a game between the United States and Mexico.

The On-Field Exchange

As Arozarena stepped up to the plate in the first inning of the Pool B game, he extended his hand towards Raleigh, the Team USA catcher. Raleigh did not reciprocate the gesture, and appeared to speak to Arozarena from behind his catcher’s mask. The moment was captured on video and quickly circulated on social media (MLB.com).

Arozarena’s Response

After the game, which the U.S. Won 5-3, Arozarena expressed his displeasure with Raleigh’s actions. According to reports, Arozarena said Raleigh’s “excellent to see you” greeting could be “shoved up his a–,” using strong language in Spanish (Reddit) and (Instagram).

Speculation Surrounds the Incident

Speculation quickly arose regarding the reason for Raleigh’s refusal to shake Arozarena’s hand. Some online theories suggest Raleigh may have suspected Arozarena of using a foreign substance, such as pine tar, on his hands to gain a grip advantage (Seattle Sports). The concern was that Raleigh didn’t want to touch Arozarena’s hand and then potentially transfer any substance to his own glove and the ball, which could be deemed illegal for pitcher Paul Skenes.

Past Precedent

This isn’t the first time Arozarena has been snubbed during a WBC handshake exchange. In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Team USA catcher Will Smith declined a fist bump from Arozarena (MLB.com). A similar incident also occurred during a game between Team Australia and Team Czechia, where an Aussie catcher declined a handshake, citing competitive reasons.

Looking Ahead

Both Raleigh and Arozarena are key players for the Seattle Mariners, and will be teammates again in just nine days when spring training begins. It remains to be seen whether the tension from the WBC will carry over into the clubhouse. The two teams could potentially meet again in the WBC if Mexico defeats Team Italy on Wednesday.