Mariners likely – Cal Raleigh’s placement on the injured list has sparked questions in Seattle about whether the Mariners will swing a trade. MLB insider Ken Rosenthal expects them to stay put, pointing to the internal catching depth they already have—while noting how rare mids
Cal Raleigh’s injury landed him on the injured list, and suddenly the Mariners’ offseason-to-schedule optimism is colliding with a very practical question: will Seattle turn to the trade market to address the catcher spot?
Speaking on “Foul Territory,” MLB insider Ken Rosenthal said he doesn’t expect the Mariners to make a move. Raleigh went on the IL with an oblique issue, and Rosenthal believes Seattle will likely ride things out internally until he’s ready to return.
Rosenthal pointed to the Mariners’ existing catching setup as the reason.. He noted that Seattle traded Harry Ford to the Washington Nationals in the offseason. and that. right now. the club is sitting with Mitch Garver.. Garver, Rosenthal said, was re-signed because the Mariners wanted him to serve as the backup behind Raleigh.. He also referenced Jhonny Pereda as a strong defensive option. adding that Seattle could split time between Garver and Pereda depending on how it chooses to handle the position while Raleigh remains out.
“I don’t expect them necessarily to make a move,” Rosenthal said. “And remember they did trade Harry Ford in the offseason to the Washington Nationals.”
The insider also suggested the broader baseball reality makes a quick fix difficult.. Catcher trades midseason are uncommon, especially because the position requires specialized adjustments when a player changes teams.. Rosenthal linked that idea to a more shocking recent deal involving another catcher, Patrick Bailey.
“So I don’t necessarily see them making the move,” Rosenthal said. “We just did see a starting catcher get traded, a highly unusual trade, especially in May, Patrick Bailey went from the Giants to the Guardians.”
That detour into how rare catcher swaps can be led Rosenthal to his bottom line: with Raleigh on the IL, Seattle’s most likely path is to wait for his return rather than trying to replace him immediately.
As the Mariners weigh their options, they’re not in free fall—Seattle sits at 22-23 and is second in the AL West. Still, the catcher slot will remain the story until Raleigh gets back.
For now, Rosenthal’s read is straightforward: the Mariners plan to handle the injury from within, using the group already on the roster, and keeping their focus on getting Raleigh back on the field.
MISRYOUM Sports News Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh injured list oblique injury Ken Rosenthal Mitch Garver Jhonny Pereda Harry Ford trade Patrick Bailey trade AL West