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What Cal said after signing new deal with Seattle Mariners

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What Cal said after signing new deal with Seattle Mariners


Cal Raleigh spoke glowingly about the city of Seattle and how badly he wants to deliver a World Series crown to the success-starved Mariners fanbase. He expressed confidence in his teammates and the organization. He teared up when talking about his family.

And of course, he worked in some good-natured ribbing toward his fellow battery mates in Seattle’s talented starting rotation.

Lefko: Cal’s commitment changes the feeling about Mariners’ future

After Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners agreed to a six-year, $105 million contract extension earlier this week, the organization formally announced the deal during a news conference on Friday. Here are some highlights what the slugging, Platinum Glove Award-winning catcher said.

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A priceless connection

From his drought-breaking home run to his “Big Dumper” nickname, Raleigh has become a fan favorite since making his big league debut with the Mariners in 2021. And as the 28-year-old catcher has repeatedly emphasized, it’s a two-way bond.

“One of the big things when deciding wanting to sign here was wanting to be someone to bring a World Series to this city and to an organization and a place that’s been so special to me and my family,” Raleigh said. “Not a lot of guys get a chance to play for one organization their whole career. … And it means a lot that (the Mariners) believe in me and that I’m gonna get a chance to do that.

“I look at guys like Alvin Davis, Dan Wilson and Ichiro. They’re Mariner greats and they’re legends in the city of Seattle and how much they mean to this city. And I think that’s super special and something that money can’t buy.”

Seattle is a long way from Raleigh’s hometown of Cullowhee, North Carolina, or where he spent his college days at Florida State University. But he said it’s become his second home.

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“To be honest, I didn’t know a whole lot about Seattle at the very beginning, even when I was drafted,” Raleigh said. “I came up here and played in Everett and slowly learned the culture and slowly learned what this organization and what this city is all about. And I kind of fell in love with it.

“This city has really embraced me, and not just me, but really all of our players. They’re great fans, they really are. They support us all the time and through the ups and downs. So when you have that kind of people in your background, it makes it really special and makes me want to stay here and want to play for those people.

“It’s not always about the money,” he added. “Sometimes it’s more about being happy and in a place that you love and a place that you really appreciate. And that’s what Seattle has shown me. And to get that opportunity to do that for a long time means a lot to me and my family.”

Confidence in the organization

The Mariners remain the only MLB franchise to never reach the World Series. Raleigh is determined to end that distinction.

“I believe in the guys in the room that we have right now,” Raleigh said. “One of the best (pitching) staffs in all of baseball, both bullpen and starters. Obviously looking ahead to the future, a lot of good young prospects. I know you can’t always count on that, but a lot of guys with good makeup and guys that I do like what I saw from spring training. And I do believe we’ve got a lot of good things going here, especially with some guys already locked up.

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“With that being said, it’s going to be one of my jobs now to be a leader and be a guy who can make this into a consistent winner and somebody who can set the culture the right way here, so that’s what I’m really looking forward to. … Nothing’s gonna change in the sense of how I prepare or what the goal is, but it just feels really good that these guys believe in me and believe in what we’re doing here.”

A ‘special’ bond

A number of Raleigh’s teammates were in attendance for his news conference, including starting pitchers Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo and Emerson Hancock. (Luis Castillo was the starting pitcher for Friday night’s game.)

So naturally, there were some playful barbs back and forth.

At one point, Miller chimed in: “So last week, we went (out) to eat and you let Logan put his card down. So I’m wondering if you plan on reimbursing him?”

“Uh, well, the deal wasn’t done yet,” Raleigh said with a laugh. “… He still owes me a few for some dirtballs I’ve had to block for him.”

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Later on, Woo presented a football analogy: “When a QB gets paid, he does a pretty good job of taking care of his O-linemen. O-linemen don’t get a whole lot of credit in the trenches with you every day. Have you put any thought toward taking care of your O-linemen?”

“Usually it’s the other way around,” Raleigh responded. “The pitcher’s supposed to take care of the catcher, right? I don’t know, we’ll think of something. Maybe I’ll get you guys a gift or something – something small.

“I’ve seen Rolexes. I’ve seen cars,” Woo chimed back. “Just putting it out there.”

“I’ll think about you guys,” Raleigh said.

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Raleigh said it meant a lot to have his pitchers and teammates show up in support.

“It’s really special. These guys mean a lot to me. A lot of these guys I’ve come up with and have unfortunately had to room with some of them,” Raleigh said with a laugh. “No, I’m kidding. But these guys mean a lot to mean and (it’s) very special to see these guys and coaches that I’ve kind of came up with as well.

“It’s special when you have those relationships. And it makes it even better when I know I’m gonna be here a lot longer and share a lot of memories with these guys.”

One final thank you

Before the news conference ended, Raleigh had one more message.

“I just want to say thank you to all my coaches (and) everybody in the organization,” Raleigh said. “You guys have treated me very well over the past nine years. This is the only place I’ve ever known, and I’m hoping this will be the only place that I ever have to know.

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“So all the people that have helped me get here, obviously my teammates, thank you very much. It really means a lot.”

Raleigh then started fighting back tears while thanking his family, which was in attendance.

“My mom and dad, thank you guys for giving me all the opportunities in the world, and my brothers and sisters for always being there for me,” Raleigh said. “I know it’s hard being all the way out in Seattle, but I do love it here and thank you guys for everything.

Raleigh closed by addressing Mariners general manager and team majority owner John Stanton, who were seated to his right.

“And thank you guys as well for giving me this opportunity to believe in me and lead this team,” Raleigh said. “I’m going to do everything I can to help us win a World Series.”

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More on the Seattle Mariners

• Gilbert and Raleigh: From 2018 M’s draft picks to opening day battery
• Seattle Mariners rookie’s defense wasn’t a concern in opening day win
• How Seattle Mariners opening day star Polanco feels different this year
• Seattle Mariners Observations: What stood out from opening day win
• Watch: Mariners legend Ichiro fires 84 mph first pitch to Dan Wilson





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Kraken Extend Streak In Comeback OT Loss | Seattle Kraken

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Kraken Extend Streak In Comeback OT Loss | Seattle Kraken


And while Dunn’s head coach insisted afterwards he doesn’t believe in “measuring stick games” the Kraken measured up fairly well in this one considering they played a pretty poor first period and needed half of the second frame to get any type of offense going against the league’s No. 2 defensive unit.

But they eventually got it going and the salvaged point, as Dunn mentioned, was huge in that it allowed the Kraken to remain in third place in the Pacific Division – just two points behind leaders Vegas and Edmonton – as they now embark on a five-city road trip. They extended their points streak to 10 games in the process, going 8-0-2 that stretch to transform a season hinging on the brink.

Mats Zuccarello got the overtime winner for Minnesota, converting a Kirill Kaprizov pass off a 2-on-1 break after the Kraken had been foiled just moments prior on their own odd-man rush. That foiled an outstanding night for Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer, who’d made several huge stops in both overtime and the third period to keep things tied, as well as prior to that frame to give his team the shot at a comeback.

The Kraken had spent the past week filling opposition nets with pucks but waited until the final 17 minutes to score their first goal of this game. By that point, they’d been trailing 2-0 since a pair of 42-foot wrist shot goals by Ryan Hartman and Brock Faber in the first period silenced the home crowd.

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“The first period was awful, and our execution was probably the biggest part of that,” Dunn said. “It’s just tough when you’re chasing the game a little bit to start the game. So, we kind of set ourselves up for the second period to come out and play the right way and I thought as the game went on, we got a lot better.

“And I thought it was a pretty competitive game both ways. A lot of chances both ways.”

Grubauer kept things close from there, stopping 31 of 34 shots on the night to give his team a chance to get back in it.

Adam Larsson then got the Kraken on the board three minutes into the final period with a slap shot goal from the right circle after Dunn had rung one off the post on a prior blast seconds earlier. And the Kraken weren’t done yet.

The Wild ran into penalty trouble not long after and the Kraken capitalized on the power play with Matty Beniers banging home a net front rebound off a Jared McCann shot that lifted the home side into a 2-2 tie and sent the Climate Pledge Arena crowd into a frenzy.

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Valter Walker vs. Marcin Tybura booked for UFC Seattle

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Valter Walker vs. Marcin Tybura booked for UFC Seattle


Heavyweights will collide in “Rain City.”

MMAmania.com confirmed with multiple sources today (Thurs., Jan. 8, 2026) that No. 10-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Marcin Tybura will take on surging Brazilian prospect Valter Walker at UFC Seattle on Sat., March 28, 2026, inside Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.

Walker (15-1) stumbled out of the gate in his UFC debut, suffering a loss to Lukasz Brzeski in 2024. Since then, however, “Clean Monster” has completely rewritten the narrative — and the UFC record books.

Walker opened 2025 by submitting Don’Tale Mayes with a heel hook (watch highlights), his second straight victory via the technique. Five months later, he followed it up with another first-round heel hook against Kennedy Nzechukwu (watch highlights), setting a new UFC record for most consecutive heel hook submission wins with three.

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But he wasn’t finished.

At UFC 321 in Oct. 2025, Walker once again locked in a first-round heel hook — this time against Louie Sutherland — tying Rousimar Palhares for the most heel hook submissions (four) in UFC history while extending his own record for consecutive heel hook finishes (watch it).

A win in Seattle would almost certainly vault Walker into the Top 10 of the Heavyweight rankings.

Tybura (27-10), meanwhile, will be defending his No. 10 spot when he steps into the cage. The Polish veteran went 1-1 in 2025, handing highly touted U.K. prospect Mick Parkin his first professional loss at UFC London before suffering a quick knockout loss to debuting Ante Delija at UFC Paris (watch highlights), snapping a two-fight win streak.

Now 40 years old, Tybura is 5-3 over his last eight appearances.

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Here are some other bouts currently scheduled for UFC Seattle:

Casey O’Neill vs. Gabriella Fernandes

Alexa Grasso vs. Maycee Barber

Nicolle Caliari vs. Carol Fiori

To checkout UFC’s upcoming schedule of events click here.

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Around 200 protest fatal ICE shooting in front of Seattle’s federal building

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Around 200 protest fatal ICE shooting in front of Seattle’s federal building


There were at least 200 protesters that showed up in Seattle Wednesday night in what speakers called an “emergency protest” in response to the fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis Wednesday.

“We want justice, we want peace, we want justice, we want peace, we want ICE off our streets, we want ice off our streets…” they chanted.

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Seattle protest on fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis

Seattle protesters outside the Federal Building following a fatal shooting by ICE agents in Minneapolis. (FOX 13 Seattle)

After listening to speakers, protesters went on the march and circled the blocks near the Federal Building in Seattle.

Though the protest was organized on short notice, some protesters say they were compelled to come out Wednesday with urgency because they felt what happened in Minneapolis was a bridge too far.

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What they’re saying:

“ICE has gone too far. We’ve felt this, we’ve known this for a long time. There have been people protesting,” said Raleigh Watts, protesting the ICE shooting. “We’ve been hearing the news. Today I came out because when I heard, it was my sign that a line has been crossed that I can’t stand anymore. So, I’ve come to say, ‘No ICE, you’ve gone too far’.”

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“A lot of people out here are really, really angry, confused and sad, but I think we have what it takes to fight back,” said Sophia Van Beek, protesting the MN ICE shooting. “I’m certain there are going to be actions.”

Sophia says in order to make a difference, protesters need to create an actionable political program.

Seattle protest on fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis

Seattle protest on fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis

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Members of law enforcement were in the area and helped to block off the streets during the protest and march. There were no clashes during this protest and it wrapped up at around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. 

“I am proud of all the hundreds of people who have turned out tonight at the federal building in Seattle. I’m proud of the people who are in Tacoma that are protesting at the ice detention center and in Minneapolis and in cities across the country. This is not okay for ICE to kill somebody,” said Watts.

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What’s next:

Some people at Wednesday’s demonstration said they were planning to organize more protests in the coming weeks.

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The Source: Information in this story came from original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.

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