The Seattle Mariners timed their contract extension with Cal Raleigh perfectly.
They agreed to a new deal with their catcher in March, just before the greatest season in the history of catchers.
The deal was this:
- 6 years
- $105 million
There's also a player option for 2031 and a full no-trade clause.
By no means is it a bad deal for Raleigh.
But it almost immediately turned into a bargain for the Mariners.
Raleigh simply went on to put together a legendary season, highlighted by the nice round number of home runs he hit: 60.
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That's the new single-season record for catchers, shattering the 48 hit by Salvador Perez that previously topped that chart.
It's the new single-season record for switch-hitters, breaking Mickey Mantle's 54.
And it's the new single-season record for Mariners, a chart which Ken Griffey Jr. previously led with 56.
Raleigh, in the end, tied Babe Ruth for the third-most home runs in a single season in American League history.
If he was due for a contract extension now, he'd almost certainly command double or triple the money he got on this deal.
Raleigh still earned himself generational wealth, and the Mariners have their superstar. It works out well for everyone, but it's definitely a bargain.
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