Cal Raleigh leaves another Mariners teammate hanging at WBC

Cal Raleigh left one of his Seattle Mariners teammates hanging again during the World Baseball Classic.

Just days after his refusal to shake Randy Arozarena’s hand at the plate during Team USA’s game against Mexico led to controversy, Raleigh turned down a first-bump attempt at home plate from Josh Naylor when the USA faced Canada in the quarterfinals on Friday night.

Drayer: The reason Cole Young is having a good spring isn’t what you think

But this time there wasn’t a postgame reaction that left many wondering if there was beef between Mariners teammates. Naylor ended any speculation on that front quickly when he spoke to media after the game, which you can see here.

“We were all just joking, trying to really make light of the situation,” Naylor told reporters in Houston with a grin on his face. “I texted him before that I was gonna do it and he said, ‘Please don’t.’ But me and Cal are really good friends. He’s an awesome teammate, honestly one of my favorite teammates I think I’ve ever had in my career. He’s such a leader, too.

“I was really, really happy to get traded to the Mariners last year and kind of experience being in a locker room with him and just being his teammate and going to dinner with him off the field and stuff. So yeah, I love him and I was just honestly super joking.”

Naylor also described what happened during the interaction with Raleigh at home plate.

“He was like, ‘Good to see you, brother.’ And I was like, ‘Good to see you, too,'” Naylor said. “It is what it is. I’m not gonna try to cause anything and it’s not that big of a deal to be completely honest.”

The response Naylor gave to the situation was much different than the one Arozarena gave after Mexico’s game against Team USA on Monday.

Our Esquina posted a video of Arozarena speaking to reporters in Spanish after the Mexico-USA game, which relayed that Arozarena was “upset that his Mariners teammate Cal Raleigh left him hanging.” Per the post, Arozarena said Raleigh told him “good to see you” after not shaking his hand, after which Arozarena said some expletives and that Raleigh can “stick his ‘good to see you’ up his behind.”

It was tough to tell just how serious Arozarena was in his comments, but Raleigh downplayed the situation when he spoke with local reporters during a conference call Tuesday.

“I hate that this is a thing,” Raleigh said. “I really don’t think this is a big deal, a big story. It shouldn’t be a thing.”

Raleigh said he had no hard feelings about Arozarena’s comments and that he reached out to the outfielder to apologize for any sort of disrespect felt.

“There’s no beef. I love Randy,” he said. “When we’re back in Seattle, he’s my brother, he’s family. We’re all in it together, just like I’m here right now with Team USA. And yeah, it is what it is.”

Arozarena issued a statement through the team upon his return to Mariners camp on Saturday.

“We didn’t get the results we wanted with Team Mexico, but I’m glad to be back in camp with my teammates. The WBC is behind us now, and I don’t want anything to take away from the Mariners. I’m focused on the season and helping this team compete for a World Series.”

This story was updated following Arozarena’s statement released through the Mariners. 

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Mariners Notebook: A big opportunity for Kade Anderson
• Why No. 3 overall pick Kade Anderson wanted Mariners to draft him
• How Mariners players are faring in the World Baseball Classic
• OF Brennen Davis seizing expanded opportunity in M’s camp
• Seattle Mariners’ Bryce Miller stops short of throwing planned bullpen

Related

Mariners trade Luis Castillo to White Sox for 3-player haulCal Raleigh walks it off as Mariners beat Twins 4-3Mariners place OF Luke Raley on injured list, call up Seattle nativeReport: Teams getting sense M’s George Kirby available in tradesSkidding Mariners open homestand with 5-3 loss to TwinsTrade Deadline: Twins add another pitcher during series with M’s