Why did Randy Arozarena apologize to Cal Raleigh?

Arozarena apologizes after WBC handshake comments

Randy Arozarena has apologized to his Seattle Mariners teammate Cal Raleigh following comments linked to a handshake incident at the World Baseball Classic.

The situation carried enough tension that the resolution moved beyond the clubhouse reaction and into an explicit public statement. Arozarena’s apology was delivered through the Mariners, with the message centered on repairing the relationship and closing the chapter on the disagreement.

What was addressed

• The dispute was tied to comments Arozarena made after a handshake snub during the WBC.
• Raleigh was the teammate directly involved in the aftermath.

Why it matters

Even when player-to-player issues are settled, they can become meaningful for team chemistry—especially when the comments are associated with a high-visibility international event like the WBC. By apologizing, Arozarena is signaling that he wants the issue treated as a past incident rather than an ongoing point of friction.

Bottom line

Arozarena’s apology to Raleigh is the clearest sign in the coverage that the Mariners want to move forward with unity heading into the next stretch of the season. The conflict is framed as an interpersonal misunderstanding that has now been resolved through an apology.