Mariners Teammates Raleigh and Arozarena Downplay Viral Interaction

Raleigh says 'there's no beef' with Arozarena after World Baseball Classic incident

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Seattle Mariners teammates Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena were involved in a viral interaction during Monday's World Baseball Classic matchup between Team USA and Mexico. Raleigh appeared to snub Arozarena's handshake at the plate, leading to speculation of tension between the two players. However, both Raleigh and Mariners manager Dan Wilson have since downplayed the incident, with Raleigh saying 'there's no beef' and Wilson stating he's not concerned about the dynamic between the players.

Why it matters

As teammates on the Mariners, any potential conflict between Raleigh and Arozarena could have implications for the team's chemistry and performance during the upcoming MLB season. The viral nature of the interaction also brought unwanted attention to the players and the organization.

The details

During Monday's WBC game, Raleigh, who was catching for Team USA, appeared to refuse to shake Arozarena's hand when Arozarena approached him at the plate. Arozarena then made some critical comments about Raleigh in a postgame interview, further fueling speculation about tension between the two. However, Raleigh has since denied any beef, saying 'I love Randy' and that they are 'brothers' when back with the Mariners. Mariners manager Dan Wilson also expressed confidence that the incident will not be an issue, stating the team has a very tight-knit clubhouse.

  • The incident occurred during Monday's WBC matchup between Team USA and Mexico.
  • Raleigh and Wilson addressed the situation with media on Tuesday.

The players

Cal Raleigh

A catcher for the Seattle Mariners who was playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

Randy Arozarena

An outfielder for the Seattle Mariners who was playing for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.

Dan Wilson

The manager of the Seattle Mariners.

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What they’re saying

“There's no beef. I love Randy. When we are back in Seattle he's my brother, he's family, we are all in it together just like I am here with Team USA. I don't see this being a thing at all.”

— Cal Raleigh (Seattle Sports 710 AM)

“These guys are incredible athletes because of their competitiveness, and that's where they're at, and that's why they've gotten to the level that they've gotten. But I also know that our team loves each other deeply. And that's one of the key ingredients we have in that clubhouse, is how much they love each other, and so I don't anticipate this being any bit of an issue.”

— Dan Wilson, Mariners Manager (The Seattle Times)

What’s next

The U.S. team, with Raleigh, plays its final pool play game against Italy on Tuesday, while Mexico, with Arozarena, closes out pool play against Italy on Wednesday.

The takeaway

The viral interaction between Mariners teammates Raleigh and Arozarena during the World Baseball Classic has been downplayed by both players and the team's manager, suggesting the incident is not expected to impact the team's chemistry or performance going forward.