Crisis Averted: Arozarena and Raleigh Clear the Air Before Mariners Season Kicks Off
Here's what you need to know: Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh are good. Like, actually good. After nearly two weeks of awkwardness following their World Baseball Classic dustup, the two Mariners teammates have made peace, and both guys went public Saturday to make sure nobody in Seattle thinks there's a problem in the clubhouse heading into Opening Day.
What Went Down at the WBC
Let's rewind to March 9. Arozarena was suiting up for Team Mexico while Raleigh was catching for Team USA in a matchup between the two squads. Before one of Arozarena's at-bats, Raleigh declined to shake his hand. That's it. One handshake that didn't happen. But it set Arozarena off. He went on a profane rant to Mexican journalist Luis Gilbert that got everyone's attention. Not exactly the kind of drama you want festering in your clubhouse when the regular season is about to start.
Both Sides Making It Right
Arozarena released a statement Saturday through the Mariners making it crystal clear: the beef is over. "I understand that with Opening Day a few days away, I don't want it to be a distraction," he said. "Cal and I have talked and I apologized for what I said after the game. Nothing in the WBC takes away from the fact that we are brothers and teammates."
Raleigh backed him up completely. He told reporters that everything from the WBC is "in the past" and that the two have worked it out. "Randy knows that I love him, and he's a brother, and it's in the past and none of us are carrying this forward," Raleigh said, per MLB.com. "We talked it out. We were both sorry, and we both got in a good place and we're both happy to be here, too."
Ready to Move Forward
This is exactly what you want to hear before the season starts. Two talented Mariners getting ahead of a potential distraction instead of letting it blow up in the clubhouse. Raleigh even mentioned how good it felt walking back into the building with everybody. With Opening Day just days away, having your catcher and a key offensive piece on the same page matters. The WBC is done. Now it's time to focus on Seattle baseball.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.