Cal Raleigh is certainly consistent.
Four days after Team USA’s catcher declined to shake hands with Team Mexico outfielder Randy Arozarena at the World Baseball Classic -- leading to some choice words postgame -- a similar situation played out, featuring Raleigh and a different Mariners teammate.
During the first inning Friday of the United States' 5-3 win at Daikin Park in Houston, Raleigh declined an offered fist bump from Canada captain and Seattle first baseman Josh Naylor.
Only this time, Raleigh knew it was coming.
2026 World Baseball Classic
Final presented by Capital One
• Champs! Venezuela beats USA in final
• Box score: Venezuela 3, USA 2
• Maikel Garcia named Classic MVP
• '26 Classic All-Tournament Team
• Final bracket, full results
• Complete coverage
“We were all just joking. Trying to really make light of the situation," said Naylor. "I texted him before that I was going to do it. He said, ‘Please don’t.’
"But me and Cal are really good friends. He’s an awesome teammate and 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 the locker room with him."
So, what did Raleigh say when Naylor approached him?
"He’s like, ‘Good to see you, brother.’ And I was like, ‘Good to see you, too,'" said Naylor.
Raleigh has made it clear he won't fraternize with players on opposing WBC teams, a policy that apparently extends to players who don Mariners colors during the MLB season. According to a Seattle Times report, players on Team USA had agreed before the tournament not to fraternize with opponents.
“They're not just exhibition games,” Raleigh said after the highly publicized incident with Arozarena during Monday's Group B game. “These are super important. I have a responsibility to my teammates and my country to be locked in and focused each game and do everything I can to win.”
With Arozarena yet to report to Mariners camp after Mexico’s elimination from the WBC, the two Seattle stars have yet to address the matter publicly together. Now, Naylor is the latest Mariners player to have a greeting with Raleigh declined.
"It’s not that big of a deal to be completely honest," said Naylor. “I like joking with my teammates and he’s an awesome friend of mine. So I love Cal and wish him the best. I can’t wait to see him and joke about him with it in the locker room when we get back to Arizona."