Seattle Mariners Catcher Cal Raleigh Earns Shocking Placement on MLB Top 10 List

Despite multiple MLB and franchise records and several offseason awards, the Seattle Mariners catcher didn't earn the top spot on MLB Network's "Top 10 Right Now" Series.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh runs after hitting a home run against the Oakland Athletics on Sept. 29 at T-Mobile Park.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh runs after hitting a home run against the Oakland Athletics on Sept. 29 at T-Mobile Park. / Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
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The Seattle Mariners will enter a crucial 2025 spring training period with many more questions than answers.

One thing that isn't in question is who will be catching arguably the best starting rotation in baseball.

The Mariners and catcher Cal Raleigh settled on a $5.6 million deal through 2025 that avoided an arbitration hearing.

The former Florida State backstop is coming off a record-breaking season that saw him etch his name in MLB and Seattle record books. Because of that, it was shocking to see where MLB Network ranked him among the best catchers in baseball.

MLB Network had their annual "Top 10 Right Now" series where they go over the best players at every position in the major leagues. They went over catchers on Jan. 9, and Raleigh checked in as the No. 4 catcher in the league behind, in order: William Contreras (Milwaukee Brewers), Adley Rutschman (Baltimore Orioles) and Will Smith (Los Angeles Dodgers).

The list is put together by an analytical tool called "The Shredder" which takes into account surface and advanced analytics on offense and defense and past performances.

And it's somewhat shocking that Raleigh was outside of the top three based on that criteria.

Before it revealed Raleigh's placement on the list, MLB Network had a graphic that showed that that he leads all catchers in fWAR (FanGraphs WAR) at 13.9 since 2022.

Raleigh hit .220 with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs in 2024. He set the Mariners franchise records for home runs and RBIs by a catcher in a single season and broke the MLB record for most homers by a catcher through their first four seasons (93).

Raleigh was also incredible on defense and earned Gold and Platinum Glove honors in the offseason.

Raleigh's placement on the list is shocking, but he'll likely have more than enough opportunities to prove the list wrong in 2025.

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MARINERS, CAL RALEIGH SETTLE ON 2025 SALARY: Cal Raleigh will earn $5.6 million in 2025 and avoid arbitration with the Seattle Mariners after a record-breaking season. CLICK HERE

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MARINERS SETTLE ON 2025 SALARY WITH TEAM ACE: The Seattle Mariners and No. 1 starting pitcher and 2024 All-Star Logan Gilbert avoided an arbitration hearing. CLICK HERE

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