Cal Raleigh denies Josh Naylor handshake, marking second Mariners teammate catcher has snubbed in WBC

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Cal Raleigh denies Josh Naylor handshake, marking second Mariners teammate catcher has snubbed in WBC originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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The Seattle Mariners are heading into 2026 with a World Series-or-bust mentality after coming within a few outs of reaching the Fall Classic last season, and they are going to need all of their stars on the same page to get there.

In the World Baseball Classic, however, catcher Cal Raleigh isn't ready to so much as associate with his Mariners teammates just yet.

Days after denying a handshake attempt from teammate Randy Arozarena during a game between the United States and Mexico, Raleigh rejected Josh Naylor's handshake during the USA's quarterfinal game against Canada despite the interaction with Arozarena making some headlines.

Here's a look at Raleigh's snub of Naylor and how Arozarena responded when he was on the wrong end of it.

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Why did Cal Raleigh deny Josh Naylor's handshake?

Raleigh appeared to reject an attempted fist bump from Naylor during Friday's quarterfinal game.

Raleigh's dismissal of his Mariners teammates' handshake attempts appears to simply be a symptom of his competitiveness. While Arozarena and Naylor will be his teammates for at least the next six months, they are competing for different teams and different flags at the moment.

However, Raleigh made the decision to snub Naylor knowing how his interaction with Arozarena blew up into a major story.

"I hate that this is a thing. I really don't think this is a big deal, a big story. It shouldn't be a thing," Raleigh said after Arozarena's reaction went viral. "I love Randy. I have all the respect for him and Team Mexico."

Raleigh still took the same approach when Naylor came to the plate, and that means Julio Rodriguez might be in for similar treatment when he bats for the Dominican Republic in the semifinals. 

MORE:Full box score from USA's win over Canada

Cal Raleigh-Randy Arozarena handshake controversy

Raleigh snubbed Arozarena in what seemed to be more of a lighthearted moment between Mariners teammates than a serious rejection. When Arozarena responded with a profane comment, however, some fans started to wonder if there was actually beef between the two.

"The other thing I want to say to him, I'll tell it to him Cuban-style. What he needs to do is go f-- himself. Mexican-style: he can go to hell," Arozarena said. "And in English, I'm gonna say it to him in English. That 'good to see you' he gave me? He can shove it up his a--."

It wasn't immediately clear whether Arozarena was just returning the favor and trolling Raleigh or actually upset with his fellow Seattle star. Raleigh later dismissed any suggestion that there was a problem between himself and Arozarena.

"This isn't a big deal at all. So we're good friends and we'll continue to be good friends and I think we're just enjoying competing against each other right now," he said. 

Mariners manager Dan Wilson also said he isn't concerned, telling reporters, "I don't anticipate this being any bit of an issue."

MORE: Has Team USA ever won a World Baseball Classic?

Cal Raleigh WBC stats

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Raleigh is 0-for-9 with five strikeouts in three World Baseball Classic games for the United States, but he has walked four times, scored four runs and driven in a run.

Team USA brought aboard three hitters who smashed 50 or more home runs in 2025, with Raleigh's 60 leading the league, but the Mariners star hasn't been able to connect with one yet in the tournament. Fortunately for Raleigh, the United States stayed alive in the quarterfinals, giving him another chance to get his bat going. 

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