Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh Details Contract Negotiation Process That Led to Mega Deal

SEATTLE - The Seattle Mariners made major news this week when they agreed to a six-year contract with catcher Cal Raleigh. The deal is worth $105 million and features a vesting option that could take it to a seventh year and more than $120 million in value.

Speaking with the media in a news conference on Friday, Raleigh detailed the contract negotiation process and how it worked.

Yeah. ​I ​mean, ​I ​guess ​this ​spring ​training, ​it ​really, ​really ​hit ​the ​ground ​running. ​And ​that's ​kind ​of ​when ​the ​talks ​got ​really ​serious. ​And ​that's ​kind ​of ​when ​it ​became ​a ​reality, ​you ​know? It ​wasn't ​just ​a ​dream ​or ​anything ​like ​that. ​And ​that, in ​a ​way, ​it ​was ​a ​little ​scary ​because ​I ​can't ​believe ​this ​is ​gonna ​happen. ​Something ​like ​that, but ​in ​a ​good ​way. ​It ​was ​really ​exciting. ​And ​it ​made ​spring ​training ​a ​little ​more ​interesting ​this ​year. ​That's ​for ​sure. ​I'm ​glad I ​went ​through ​the ​process, ​and ​I'm ​glad ​we ​were ​able ​to ​do ​this ​thing.

Raleigh led all catchers in home runs last season with 34 and also brought in 100 runs. The best defensive catcher in the league, he also won the Gold Glove award and took home the Platinum Glove as the best overall defender in the American League.

The Mariners will continue their season on Saturday when they take on the Athletics for game three. First pitch from T-Mobile Park is set for 6:40 p.m. PT as Bryce Miller takes the ball on the mound.