Randy Arozarena said he apologized to Carl Rowley after he made comments about his Seattle Mariners teammates at the World Baseball Classic earlier this month.
“I know we are days away from Opening Day and I don’t want it to be a distraction,” Arozarena said in a statement released by the Mariners. “Carl and I have spoken and I apologize for what I said after the game. Nothing in the WBC can take away from the fact that we are brothers and teammates.”
On March 9, the United States defeated the Mexican team 5-3 in the Group B game in Houston. Arozarena, who played for the Mexican team, offered to shake hands with Raleigh before batting in the first inning. Rowley refused, and Team USA reportedly had a philosophy against such behavior during the game.
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After the game, Arozarena launched into a profanity-filled rant at a Mexican reporter.
“We talked it over and everything worked out,” Rowley said. “Randy knows I love him and he’s my brother and it’s in the past and neither of us is going to carry this on any longer. We’re in a good place. We talked it out. We’re all sorry, but we’re all in a good place and we’re happy to be here.
“It’s great to walk in the door and see everyone. As much fun as (the WBC) is, it feels good to be back here. In a way, it feels like the family is back together.”
Phillies, Sanchez agree to trade
Left-hander Christopher Sanchez agreed to a six-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, the team announced Sunday.
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The Phillies, who did not disclose financial terms, announced the deal would begin in 2027 and run through 2032, with a club option for 2033. However, “The Athletic” reported that the deal guarantees Sanchez will receive $107 million in income by 2032, including $3.5 million in 2026.
Sanchez, 29, is expected to be the Phillies’ Opening Day starter on March 26 in their season opener against the visiting Texas Rangers.
He had the best season of his career, going 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA in 32 games (all starts) in 2025. He finished second in National League Cy Young Award voting last season, losing to Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes.
Sanchez, who will be an All-Star in 2024, has appeared in 104 career games (85 starts) for the Phillies, with a 30-21 record and a 3.24 ERA. He has recorded three complete games and one clean sheet.
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This article originally appeared in The Detroit News: MLB Roundup: Randy Arozarena apologizes to Cal Raleigh over WBC spat
