The Seattle Mariners may be seeing team chemistry unravel in real time due to the “Handshake-Gate” incident, where star Cal Raleigh declined to shake hands with Randy Arozarena and Josh Naylor during the World Baseball Classic. While Raleigh framed it as lighthearted and focused on representing Team USA, the encounter with Arozarena felt more serious.
Despite Raleigh claiming everything was amicable, mixed signals reportedly circulated behind the scenes. If the Mariners want to avoid turmoil in 2026, they might consider moving Arozarena. FanSided’s Mark Powell agrees, suggesting the Mariners explore a trade with the Detroit Tigers as a precaution.
Proposed Trade:
- To Detroit: OF Randy Arozarena
- To Seattle: INF Hao-Yu Lee (Detroit’s No. 6 prospect), SS Jordan Yost (No. 9 prospect), OF Nick Dumesnil (No. 27 prospect)
Powell notes that from a value standpoint, this could be a prime opportunity for Seattle. Trading Arozarena could net them two top-10 prospects from Detroit’s strong farm system—something unlikely later in the season. He also acknowledges that the “bad blood” may be exaggerated and emphasizes that Raleigh’s behavior doesn’t necessarily reflect personal animosity outside the tournament. Ideally, the situation can be resolved quietly behind closed doors.
Last season, Arozarena posted a .238/.334/.426/.760 line with 32 doubles, 27 home runs, 76 RBI, and 32 stolen bases across 160 games, remaining a key part of the Mariners’ offense. Still, acquiring Detroit’s top prospects could pay dividends for Seattle long-term.
As Powell points out, this might simply be an overblown controversy. But if tension truly exists, having a trade like this ready would help Seattle stay competitive.
Leave a Reply