The Seattle Mariners left fielder's controversy with Cal Raleigh at the World Baseball Classic could hurt the M's clubhouse, but it could also hurt Arozarena's bottom line.
Last week, the baseball world was abuzz with the "handshake controversy" involving Seattle Mariners players Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena.
By now, you know the story, know about Arozarena's immediate reaction, Raleigh's comments after the fact, Arozarena's social media sub-commentary on the topic, and his statement delivered through Mariners PR.
At this point, I think there's two things that are simultaneously true, and I discussed them in greater detail on the most recent 'Refuse to Lose' podcast.
No. 1 - The story will publicly go away
Arozarena is good at making his media appearances scarce, so I think he'll let his statement stand for itself and I don't think he'll really address the story moving forward.
That means that we'll get Raleigh's version a few more times: Likely when he gets back to spring training after the WBC and then again when the team heads north to Seattle for Opening Day. Once the questions have been asked in those venues, I think the story will largely be done.
Raleigh will have said what he needs to say and Arozarena will continue to say nothing at all, and that will be that. The clubhouse dynamics might be a different story, but publicly, this will be over in a week.
Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) reacts after striking out against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second inning during game six of the ALCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Rogers Centre. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn ImagesNo. 2 - Arozarena is doing himself no favors
If you believe it was wrong of Raleigh to snub Arozarena's handshake, I understand your perspective. If you don't like Team USA's unwritten policy to not shake hands, then I understand that too.
However, if you were on Arozarena's side at the beginning of this whole thing, I think it's fair to admit that he has done nothing to keep you on his side since then. Bashing his teammate in the media, sub-posting on social media and then not addressing the story head on is not a great look, and it's one that could impact him moving forward.
Arozarena is a free agent at the end of the season and the last thing he needs is a story like this out there. Now, I don't want to get it twisted: If he plays great in 2026, he'll get a good deal, just like Framber Valdez (who had questions about him) did in the offseason. But if he struggles at all, this is exactly the kind of story that can and will be used against him by other teams.
And for an outfielder on the wrong side of 30, he needs all the good press he can get. This isn't that.
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