Report: Mariners, catcher Cal Raleigh finalizing six-year extension

The Big Dumper is staying in Seattle.

The Seattle Mariners are finalizing a six-year, $105-million contract extension with star catcher Cal Raleigh, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Tuesday.

The deal will start this season and buys out three years of free agency, Passan added.

Raleigh’s deal supersedes a $5.6 million, one-year agreement on Jan. 9 that avoided salary arbitration. The 28-year-old would have been eligible for arbitration after the 2025 and 2026 seasons, and was on track to be eligible for free agency after the 2027 World Series.

Raleigh made his MLB debut with the Mariners in 2021 at age 24.

He appeared in 153 games for the Mariners last season and slashed .220/.312/.436 with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs. He also claimed a Gold Glove for the first time and finished 12th in AL MVP voting.

The native of Cullowhee, N.C., was selected by the Mariners in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft.

Last season, Seattle finished second in the AL West with an 85-77 record. The Mariners open the 2025 season on Thursday when they host the Athletics.

— With files from the Associated Press