gg2
Cal Raleigh news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Cal Raleigh, last year's AL MVP runner-up, has 12 home runs and a .159 average in 86 games. His slump mirrors the Mariners' five-game losing streak and playoff hopes.
Background
Cal Raleigh had a historic 2025 season, hitting 60 home runs and finishing second in AL MVP voting. In 2026, his performance has drastically declined, with a .159 average and 12 home runs, contributing to the Mariners' struggles. The team, which finished 18 games above .500 last year, is now 57-65 and in third place in the AL West.
How it unfolded
- Aug 11, 2026After the Mariners' 4-1 loss to the Yankees, Cal Raleigh spoke to the media, saying 'I'm awful' and taking blame for the team's struggles.
- Aug 12, 2026Raleigh's comments were widely reported, with ESPN and The Seattle Times covering his admission of poor performance.
- Aug 13, 2026FOX Sports published an analysis of Raleigh's decline, noting his -0.1 WAR and 65 OPS+ this season.
- Aug 14, 2026NBC Sports and Defector published pieces examining the historical context of Raleigh's slide, with one noting it's the second-biggest decline in baseball history.
- Aug 15, 2026Mariners news roundup included updates on Raleigh's ongoing struggles and other team news.
Who’s saying what
- Player
- Cal Raleigh said, 'I'm not pointing fingers. I'm ultimately the worst of the group right now, and I understand that.'
- Analysts
- Analysts note his strikeout rate jumped from 26.7% to 32.2%, and his HR% fell from 8.5% to 3.2%, indicating a severe regression.
- Historical
- Mike Petriello pointed out that Raleigh is having the second-biggest decline in baseball history (min 350 PA in each year).