MVP and AL Championship narrowly missed, Raleigh sets sights on a bigger goal in 2026

Cal Raleigh’s dejected expression that evening was unmistakable. At the MLB awards event in Las Vegas, the Mariners’ catcher had just found out he was runner-up in the AL MVP voting. In front of the cameras, he stayed gracious, congratulating the winner, but said very little.

Three months on, he was ready to discuss the MVP race again, the closest he had come since 2019. Aaron Judge received 17 of the 30 first-place votes, while Raleigh earned 13.

“Of course I wanted to win, so naturally it’s disappointing,” Raleigh said. “But Judge is an incredible player doing things never seen before, so congrats to him. Still, being that close, you always feel that disappointment and wonder, ‘Could I have done more?’”

That question is tough to answer.

Last year, Raleigh smashed 60 home runs, setting records for catchers and switch hitters, just two shy of Judge’s 62 AL record set in 2022. He led the Mariners to their first AL West title since 2001, won the Home Run Derby, and anchored the demanding catcher position. Undoubtedly, he was the biggest storyline in the league last season.

His rivalry with Judge became the hottest topic before the playoffs. Judge dominated all batting stats with an astonishing slash line of .331/.457/.688 and an OPS of 1.144.

“That period was basically unavoidable,” Raleigh said. “MLB Network was always on in the clubhouse during warmups, and they talked a lot about it. But I felt I had to focus on the right things—think about what got me here. It’s about repeating what makes you successful, what makes you a good player, what you do right every day, and not falling into that trap or getting distracted by the noise.”

Three weeks passed between the Mariners’ heartbreaking exit in the AL Championship Series and the MVP announcement, enough time to process the pain and let the conversation reignite.

“You hear all kinds of voices. I’m human too,” Raleigh said. “You pick up your phone—people send messages, call, post on social media. That’s how it goes. But I’m chasing a bigger goal: the World Series.”

A winning mindset has always been central to Raleigh, especially after a personal honors-filled 2025. This spring, he’s back in the spotlight as the starting catcher for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, now teammates with Judge.

The two kept in touch during the offseason, starting with Raleigh congratulating Judge in person, then meeting again when Judge was in Arizona. There’s no bitterness—Raleigh isn’t that kind of person; quite the opposite.

Raleigh wants to continue the conversation they began at last year’s All-Star Game, face-to-face, about leadership.

“When people meet Aaron Judge, their first reaction is usually ‘Teach me to hit’ or ‘Look at my swing,’” Raleigh said. “Now I know who I am. Of course, you always want to learn more, but you have to focus on someone who plays in a big market, carries the pressure to win, and leads a renowned team.”

“I want to understand how other leaders operate. I want to pick their brains. Always try to absorb as much information as possible, process it, and integrate it into my own game.”

Raleigh will leave at the end of February to participate in the World Baseball Classic, possibly missing a few weeks. The group stage starts March 4, with the finals on March 17. Beyond the spotlight, this will bring a playoff-like atmosphere and, perhaps more importantly, an opportunity for Raleigh to draw from last year’s postseason experience and prepare for a fresh start in 2026.