The Seattle Mariners might be seeing their team chemistry unravel in real time thanks to “Handshake-Gate,” where superstar Cal Raleigh refused to shake hands with Randy Arozarena and Josh Naylor during the World Baseball Classic. While Raleigh framed the incidents as lighthearted or a focus on representing his country, the exchange with Arozarena felt different.
Raleigh insists there’s no bad blood, but behind the scenes, signals may have been crossed. If the Mariners want to avoid internal friction that could derail their 2026 season, moving Arozarena could be on the table. FanSided’s Mark Powell agrees, suggesting Seattle explore a deal with the Detroit Tigers as a potential solution.
Proposed trade scenario:
Detroit gets: OF Randy Arozarena
Seattle gets: Detroit No. 6 prospect INF Hao-Yu Lee, No. 9 prospect SS Jordan Yost, No. 27 prospect OF Nick Dumesnil
Powell notes, “From a value standpoint, this could be a rare opportunity for the Mariners. Trading Arozarena now or at the deadline could net them two top-10 prospects from a strong Detroit farm system—a package that might not come around again. Of course, some of the tension could be overblown. Raleigh representing Team USA doesn’t automatically mean he can’t interact with Arozarena outside the tournament. Hopefully, whatever issues exist can be smoothed out behind closed doors.”
Last season, Arozarena posted a .238/.334/.426 slash line with 27 home runs, 76 RBI, 32 doubles, and 32 stolen bases over 160 games. He’s undeniably a key piece of the Mariners’ offense, but acquiring Detroit’s top prospects could pay long-term dividends.
As Powell suggests, this might simply be fans and critics reading too much into things. But if tensions are real, having a trade like this ready could help Seattle maintain competitiveness while avoiding potential locker room drama.