Trending Now - Arozarena and Raleigh Settle Rumors of WBC Dispute
WHO:
Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners catcher
Randy Arozarena, Mexico national team player and Seattle Mariners teammate
Dan Wilson, Mariners manager
Luis Gilbert, Mexican journalist
Dan Wilson, Mariners manager, stated, "These guys are incredible athletes because of their competitiveness, and that's where they're at."
Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager, commented on the handshake incident, saying, "To be honest, when it happened, on the bench, we were like ‘Oof. OK.’”
Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners player
Randy Arozarena, Mexico national team player and Seattle Mariners teammate
Dan Wilson, Mariners manager
Paul Skenes, Team USA pitcher
Luis Gilbert, Mexican journalist
Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners player
Randy Arozarena, Mexico national team player and Seattle Mariners teammate
Dan Wilson, Mariners manager
Mark DeRosa, Team USA manager
Paul Skenes, Team USA pitcher
Luis Gilbert, Mexican journalist
WHAT:
Cal Raleigh stated, "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."
Arozarena expressed, "I want to tell him (expletive) you in four languages. First, that he should thank God he has good parents, he’s well-raised."
Arozarena mentioned he saw Raleigh's parents at the hotel two days prior, stating, "They came over to greet me, gave me a big hug, and were genuinely proud to see me again."
Arozarena said, "That ‘good to see you’ that he said to me, he can shove it straight up his ass."
Mariners manager Dan Wilson stated, "I don’t anticipate this being any bit of an issue."
Team USA's next game is scheduled for March 10th, 2026, against Team Italy at 9 p.m. ET.
Mexico (2-1) will face Italy on March 11th, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET in the last game of Group B play.
Arozarena stated, "The only thing he should be thankful for is having such great parents," and added, "He can shove it straight up his ass."
Raleigh emphasized, "I have a responsibility to my teammates and the country to be focused and locked in."
Arozarena's comments were made in a post-game interview after the game on March 6th, 2026.
Arozarena expressed his feelings about Raleigh's handshake refusal, saying, "What do you want me to tell him? I’d like to tell him in four languages... he can go f--- himself."
Raleigh stated, "I reached out to Randy and I told him, essentially, sorry if you felt disrespected or whatever it may be."
Raleigh stated, "I love Randy. Like I said, when we're back in Seattle, he's my brother. He's family."
Arozarena said, "All he has to do is thank God he has such wonderful parents, yeah? That his parents are very well-mannered."
Arozarena expressed, "He can go f--- himself" in multiple languages, including English and Spanish.
Cal Raleigh refused to shake hands with Randy Arozarena during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) game on March 6th, 2026.
Team USA defeated Team Mexico 5-3 in the WBC.
Arozarena responded to Raleigh's handshake snub by saying, "he can go f--- himself" in multiple languages.
Arozarena mentioned he saw Raleigh's parents two days prior and that they were proud of him.
WHERE:
The incident occurred during a WBC game in Houston, Texas.
Mariners’ Spring Training facility in Peoria, Arizona.
WHEN:
Raleigh made his comments on March 10th, 2026.
Arozarena's comments were made after the game on March 6th, 2026.
Raleigh made his comments about reaching out to Arozarena on March 10th, 2026.
Raleigh made his comments on March 10th, 2026.
Arozarena's comments were made after the game on March 6th, 2026.
The handshake incident occurred on March 6th, 2026.
Arozarena's comments were made after the game on March 6th, 2026.
Team USA's next game is scheduled for March 10th, 2026, against Team Italy at 9 p.m. ET.
WHY:
Raleigh mentioned, "Emotions are running high. There’s no beef here. Like I said, there’s no story to me."
Raleigh emphasized the importance of the games, stating, "Each individual’s country emotions are running high. They’re not just exhibition games. These are super important."
Raleigh emphasized, "Emotions are running high. There's no beef here. Like I said, there's no story to me."
Raleigh stated he had a responsibility to his teammates and the country to be focused during the game.
Arozarena's comments suggest he felt disrespected by the handshake refusal.
HOW:
Raleigh reached out to Arozarena via text message on March 10th, 2026, to clarify the situation.
Raleigh stated he reached out to Arozarena to apologize if he felt disrespected.
Raleigh mentioned he was focused on catching Paul Skenes, the 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner, during the WBC.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson planned to speak to both players on March 10th, 2026, to address the situation.
Raleigh did not reciprocate the handshake to avoid getting pine tar on his hands, as per competitive norms in baseball.
Arozarena's comments were made in a post-game interview, where he expressed his feelings about the handshake snub.
(UPDATED March 11, 2026 07:18 UTC)
Tensions between Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena have surfaced, with Raleigh downplaying the situation, stating he doesn't think it's a big deal, while Arozarena expressed his frustration and shared a positive encounter with Raleigh's parents just days earlier. Mariners manager Dan Wilson weighed in, saying he doesn't anticipate this becoming an issue, as Raleigh reached out to Arozarena via text to clarify things after their exchange. Meanwhile, Team USA is set to play against Team Italy tonight at 9 p.m. ET, while Mexico will take on Italy in the final Group B game at 7 p.m. ET.
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(UPDATED March 11, 2026 05:20 UTC)
In a heated exchange following a recent game, Randy Arozarena made headlines with his fiery comments, stating, "The only thing he should be thankful for is having such great parents," and adding, "He can shove it straight up his ass." In response, Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh emphasized the importance of focus, saying, "I have a responsibility to my teammates and the country to be focused and locked in," while also reaching out to Arozarena to apologize if he felt disrespected. Raleigh noted that emotions are running high but insisted, "There’s no beef here," and added, "Like I said, there’s no story to me."
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(UPDATED March 11, 2026 01:25 UTC)
In a recent statement, Mariners manager Dan Wilson praised his players' competitiveness, while Team USA manager Mark DeRosa reflected on a handshake incident, noting the team's reaction was one of surprise. Arozarena expressed his frustration over Raleigh's refusal to shake hands, saying he wished he could convey his feelings in multiple languages, while Raleigh later apologized for any perceived disrespect. He emphasized the significance of the games, stating that the emotions tied to each player's country are running high, and he was focused on catching Paul Skenes, the 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner, during the World Baseball Classic.
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(UPDATED March 10, 2026 23:05 UTC)
In a recent statement, Seattle Mariners player Cal Raleigh expressed his strong bond with teammate Randy Arozarena, saying, "I love Randy. Like I said, when we're back in Seattle, he's my brother. He's family." Arozarena, however, made headlines after the game on March 6, expressing frustration with Raleigh in colorful terms, prompting Mariners manager Dan Wilson to plan a conversation with both players today to address the situation.
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(UPDATED March 10, 2026 21:07 UTC)
In a heated moment during the World Baseball Classic game on March 6, 2026, Seattle Mariners player Cal Raleigh refused to shake hands with his teammate Randy Arozarena, who plays for the Mexico national team, after Team USA defeated Team Mexico 5-3. Arozarena responded to the snub in a post-game interview, saying, "he can go f--- himself" in multiple languages, while also mentioning that he had seen Raleigh's parents just two days earlier and they were proud of him. Team USA is set to face Team Italy tonight at 9 p.m. ET, as the tournament continues in Houston, Texas.