Seattle, WA
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.
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.
“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.
“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.”
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.
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.
“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.”
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
Seattle, WA
Outreach groups respond to the reported relocation cycle of Ballard’s homeless population
SEATTLE — As people voice concerns about an encampment in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, outreach groups are detailing their efforts and fighting back against encampment removals.
The outreach group We Heart Seattle said it checks on the people in an encampment of at least 20 people weekly to offer water, snacks, personal hygiene items, and access to treatment.
RELATED | Ballard encampment grows after city removes nearby site along Burke-Gilman Trail
The group told KOMO it believes more can be done at the city level, from policy to housing, to get the homeless connected with shelter and services.
A woman working at the Fred Meyer off NW 45th Street and 9th Avenue captured video of a fire near tents at an encampment across the street. A day later, off camera, she told KOMO News she worries about the safety of the people living in the tents and Ballard neighbors, in addition to concerns about alleged open-air drug use at the encampment.
“We became homeless because of certain situations, and we turned to drugs, and unfortunately, addiction comes next, you know?” Crystal Rawlings told KOMO News. She has set up her tent on multiple streets in Ballard, and said she’s approaching one year of being opioid-free.
She believes there’s been more city outreach since the start of the new mayoral administration to connect people living on the streets with services, but knows there’s not enough transitional housing for everyone who needs or wants it.
She and the Ballard Community Task Force on Homelessness and Hunger urge the city to stop encampment removals that push this group to another block.
RELATED | City removes Ballard encampment as neighboring businesses raise housing concerns
“We’re not abominations. We’re not obstructions, and we’re not trash, so stop sweeping us,” Rawlings stated.
The city is still aiming to reach Mayor Katie Wilson’s goal of adding 1,000 new units of shelter in 2026 and recently opened a tiny home village in nearby Interbay, but fell short of the goal of 500 new units by June.
Andrea Suarez with We Heart Seattle estimates at least 20 people living on the street keep getting moved around Ballard, from behind the Albert Lee store to Leary Avenue to NW 45th Street behind the Fred Meyer.
“This encampment has people that’ve been homeless for more than five years. We know their names and faces. They’re still here. They’re still stuck in late-phase addiction, frankly because it’s permitted,” Suarez explained.
RELATED | Viral makeshift homeless shelter with chimney dismantled by Seattle city crews
She believes a camping ban on city sidewalks would help encourage more people to accept shelter, and help stop the cycle of moving people without
“It is an underserved community. I think it is unfair,” Suarez added. “We’ve tried to balance between enablement and really giving people a hand up, but without the teeth and backup for the work of outreach workers, it starts to feel futile, and that’s why we get burned out.”
The mayor’s office was working to send data about its homeless response in Ballard as of Wednesday afternoon.
The Ballard Community Task Force on Homelessness and Hunger estimates there have been nine Ballard-area encampment removals so far this year.
SEATTLE – Wednesday will be another warm day with highs in the mid to upper 80s for parts of western Washington. Eastern and central Washington will reach near 100F with high fire danger. The coast and north interior will be cooler, only in the 60s to 70s.
Wednesday will be another warm day with highs in the mid to upper 80s for parts of western Washington.
Fire Weather Watch
A Fire Weather Watch goes into effect Wednesday evening through Thursday evening for thunderstorms and gusty winds. Lightning strikes could create new fire starts and, with very dry conditions in place, any new fire could spread quickly.
A Fire Weather Watch goes into effect Wednesday evening through Thursday evening for thunderstorms and gusty winds.
What’s next:
An upper level low will move into the Pacific Northwest, bringing scattered showers and a chance of thunderstorms. The heaviest showers will be in the morning hours and will turn more scattered into the evening hours.
An upper level low will move into the Pacific Northwest, bringing scattered showers and chance of thunderstorms.
Looking Ahead:
High pressure will build again Friday and into the weekend, increasing temperatures and sunshine. We will start to see highs reach the upper 80s to low 90s by early next week.
High pressure will build again Friday and into the weekend, increasing temperatures and sunshine.
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After so many disappointing seasons with the interior offensive line, the Seattle Seahawks made a commitment last offseason to improve the unit. They started one big step at a time by drafting North Dakota State guard Grey Zabel in the first round, 18th overall pick, of the 2025 NFL Draft. This one was one of the last steps for the Seahawks to create one of the most productive offenses in the NFL.
Zabel wasn’t perfect in his rookie season, but he was good enough to validate the decision to draft him in the first round, and he showed improvement. Zabel is already a favorite among some Seahawks fans and some media outlets as they love his determination and spirit. It was a big jump from the FCS collegiate level to the NFL and this season, he has a chance to show why he might be a top-half-of-the-league guard.
Why Zabel Could Be Ranked Higher?
The Seahawks wanted a determined workhorse when looking for a guard. That’s exactly what they got in Zabel. Last season, he appeared in 1,051 snaps, which is only 10 fewer snaps than right tackle Abraham Lucas, who had the most offensive snaps. Zabel got better as the season progressed. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 81.5 and a run-block grade of 81.2 in Week 14 through the NFC Championship Game.
There were times last season when he looked like a monster against several defenders. He was pushing some defenders completely out of the way on pulling plays and even ran to defenders after the pass-catcher caught the ball. This is the mentality the Seahawks expect him to have going into his second season in the league. He has more experience and the complete trust of the team to be a franchise player on par with Lucas and left tackle Charles Cross. If he continues to improve, he will be another steal for the Seahawks.
Why Zabel Could Be Ranked Lower?
There were times last season when he didn’t quite catch up to the learning curve of the NFL. Zabel allowed two sacks, four hits and 24 pressures in 2025. The Seahawks expect those numbers to decrease significantly as he is experienced and capable of playing at an efficient level. While Zabel is impressive, he might not be the best player the Seahawks have selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. That honor belongs to slot cornerback Nick Emmanwori, who is stepping up to be the steal of the draft.
Zabel is easily one of the best second-year players and is one of the top offensive linemen, but there are players behind him because they haven’t proven to be consistently explosive for the Seahawks. There is going to be even more pressure on him this upcoming season. The Seahawks hired a more run-friendly coach in Brian Fleury as offensive coordinator. His ranking at the end of the season might be much better if he improves, or worse if he fails to reach expectations.
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