CAL Raleigh

Cal Raleigh's public perception sits at a B- — respectable but notably muted relative to what his on-field track record warrants. The narrative driving that gap is a combination of a slow start to the 2026 season and a reduced starting role that has fans and media hedging despite his history of delivering in the biggest moments; the walk-off heroics off the bench against the Yankees, rather than quieting the noise, have actually amplified the underlying concern about his deployment. That disconnect is stark when you stack the sentiment against his A+ performance grade — a 2025 Silver Slugger, 2025 All-MLB 1st Team selection, and a 2024 Gold Glove paint the picture of one of the most complete catchers in the game, yet the conversation in the last two weeks has been defined more by injury updates and MRI results than by celebration of an elite talent. His recent return to the lineup after a brief injury absence has done little to reset the narrative, and a high-profile moment of sportsmanship toward Angels outfielder Jo Adell — publicly tipping his cap after Adell robbed multiple home runs — has at least kept the character framing of Raleigh strongly positive. Seattle's flurry of recent roster activity, including signings at third base and in the bullpen, suggests a front office actively trying to shore up a 18-20 club sitting on the bubble of the American League playoff picture, which makes Raleigh's health and availability all the more critical to how this team is perceived heading forward. The bottom line: Raleigh's sentiment grade is being weighed down by situational concerns — injury, reduced starts, a sluggish early-season stretch — that feel temporary when measured against the body of work of a franchise-caliber catcher; if he returns to full-time duty healthy, the narrative should correct itself quickly.