The Mariners really are threatening to waste one of the greatest MLB seasons ever

When the Seattle Mariners signed Cal Raleigh to a six-year, $105 million extension, it wasn’t just a smart business move — it was a much-needed statement.

Mariners fans didn’t question Raleigh's value. They celebrated it. The backstop affectionately known as “Big Dumper” had long been one of baseball’s best-kept secrets. Clutch at the plate, reliable behind it, and a clubhouse cornerstone. The extension only confirmed what fans already knew — Raleigh was worth building around.

Cal Raleigh is writing history in 2025, and the Mariners are wasting it

But no one, not even the most optimistic Mariners fan, could’ve predicted what would come next. Since signing that deal, Raleigh hasn’t just been good. He’s been seismic. He’s launching balls at a pace that echoes through the record books and has ignited a first-half surge for the ages. Not just for a catcher — for any hitter. Take a look at the company Raleigh has entered:

Earliest to Reach 25 Home Runs in a Season

• May 24 – Barry Bonds (2001)
• May 25 – Mark McGwire (1998)
• May 29 – Albert Pujols (2006)
• June 2 – Ken Griffey Jr. (1997)
• June 6 – Barry Bonds (2000)
• June 7 – Cal Raleigh (2025)

That’s not just impressive. That’s legendary. You don’t stumble onto a list like this. You bash your way in.

Raleigh is now tracking toward 66 home runs on the season — a staggering number for any player, but especially for a catcher. The single-season record for home runs by a catcher is 48, set by Salvador Perez in 2021. Before that, it was Johnny Bench’s 45 in 1970 — a record that stood for over five decades.

To put it simply: Cal Raleigh isn’t just playing well, he’s redefining what’s possible at the catcher position.

And somehow, the Mariners are teetering on the edge. Their playoff odds hover near 50-50, a frustratingly familiar feeling for a fanbase that’s seen generational performances get undercut by team-wide inconsistency. History doesn’t provide much comfort either. Of the nine times a player has hit 60 or more homers in a season, five of those sluggers ended up watching October from the couch. It’s not the kind of history Raleigh — or the Mariners want to be on the side of.

But is it too little, too late? The Mariners are barely floating above .500, and the back half of their schedule is a minefield. Contenders are rising. The soft part of the calendar may have already passed. What remains is a brutal stretch that will test not just depth and talent — but mental fortitude.

Cal Raleigh is doing everything in his power to drag this team forward, delivering big time shots and history-making moments night in and out. But even the most heroic individual performance has its limits. If the Mariners want to ensure Raleigh’s season doesn’t become a footnote in a forgotten campaign, they’ll need to find another gear. Fast.