Randy says he apologized, Cal says WBC drama ‘in the past’

PEORIA, Ariz. – Seattle Mariners camp has been a flurry of activity since the return of the last group of players from the World Baseball Classic. There have been innings and at-bats to be found, schedules and lineups scrambled, whatever it takes to get in the work they need for what in just a few short days will be the 26-man roster.

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Somewhere amongst that flurry of activity, a long-awaited conversation was had between Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh.

About about two hours before the Mariners’ Cactus League game against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday night, Arozarena put out a statement via the team that addressed the WBC incident between him and teammate Cal Raleigh.

“I understand that with Opening Day a few days away, I don’t want it to be a distraction,” Arozarena said. “Cal and I have talked and I apologized for what I said after the game. Nothing in the WBC takes away from the fact that we are brothers and teammates. He’s family, and we are both focused on helping the Mariners win the World Series.”

The statement echoes much of the sentiment of Raleigh’s comments to members of the Seattle media the morning after he refused Arozarena’s handshake in the March 9 WBC game between the United States and Mexico, which prompted postgame comments from Arozarena that spurred unwanted attention on the Mariners.

“I love Randy,” Raleigh said back on March 10. “I have all the respect for him and Team Mexico. I already reached out to him personally to talk with him. And obviously, when we’re back in Seattle, we’re family, we’re brothers, and I’ll do anything for him. I’ll do anything for our team to win.”

Neither player would want anything within their control to put achieving the Mariners’ lofty goals they have set this season in jeopardy. It is likely those words alone from Arozarena would have helped close the door on the incident. The fact he said he apologized to Raleigh for his comments at the WBC in Houston hopefully helps lock that door and put the focus back on what happens on the field, as has been the case with the players in Peoria all along.

That atmosphere very well may have helped facilitate the reconciliation, according to Raleigh.

“We talked it out and everything went great,” Raleigh said after the Mariners’ 7-1 loss to the Cubs on Saturday night. “Randy knows that I love him and he’s a brother and it’s in the past and none of us are carrying this forward.

“We’re both sorry and we both got in a good place and we’re both happy to be here too. I mean, it was really good walking in the door and seeing everybody. As fun as that was (at the WBC), it was nice to feel back here. I feel like the family’s all back together in a way.”

An unpleasant sidenote to the WBC should be left at the WBC, and by the looks of things, it was. An important conversation was had, and it appears there is one focus moving forward.

“I think it doesn’t surprise me,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “That’s what we’ve talked about in that clubhouse. It’s a special group. They love each other. And yeah, it’s time. I think we’re all ready to get back to Seattle and get this thing started.”

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