Mariners’ Cal Raleigh simply needs it to be the offseason

It's absolutely insane that Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners is playing at this level throughout the 2026 campaign. 

There was no debate that Raleigh was a top-three hitter in Major League Baseball a season ago, finishing with 60 home runs, 125 RBIs, and a .948 OPS. He was undoubtedly as good as anybody in the game and had a real chance to win the American League Most Valuable Player award if Aaron Judge wasn't putting up historic numbers as well.

What makes matters crazier is that Raleigh has turned into a player who isn't even decent. He's currently hitting .157 with 13 home runs and a 65 OPS+. 

Every single number suggests that he's a below-average big leaguer. He's also making history in a bad way.

“There have been 10 instances in which a player hit at least 60 homers in a season. No one has hit fewer than 32 the following season.

“Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has 12, while hitting .158. It would be the lowest batting average by a qualifying player in modern-day baseball history, eclipsing Chris Davis’ .168 batting average in 2018 for the Baltimore Orioles,” Bob Nightengale wrote.

That Chris Davis season in 2018 was not one to remember for anybody, as Davis struggled with some things on and off the field. 

Raleigh, who seemed to be a player who wouldn't have this type of falloff, just hasn't been able to figure things out, and it seems like he's in his head. Perhaps an offseason will work wonders for him.

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