Seattle Mariners star catcher Cal Raleigh has been placed on the 10-day Injured List with a right oblique strain, leaving fantasy baseball managers with a tough decision. The 2025 home run champion and Silver Slugger winner has struggled mightily to start the 2026 season, and this latest setback adds another layer of uncertainty to his fantasy value.

Raleigh's slow start has been one of the more puzzling storylines in baseball this year. Through 161 at-bats, he's hitting just .161 with 26 hits, 16 runs, seven home runs, and 18 RBIs. Perhaps most concerning are the 57 strikeouts, which have dragged down his already low batting average. The Mariners have felt his struggles too, sitting at 21-23 through mid-May after a historic 2025 campaign.

The injury occurred during Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Houston Astros, when Raleigh was removed in the final inning due to soreness after an 0-for-4 start. The timing is particularly frustrating—it came just one game after he snapped a 38-at-bat slump on Tuesday. Seattle has recalled catcher Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A to fill the roster spot while Raleigh recovers.

So, should fantasy managers panic? Not necessarily. While Raleigh's slow start has been disappointing for those who drafted him with a top-20 ADP, his track record speaks for itself. He's the reigning home run champ and finished as an MVP runner-up in 2025. The oblique strain, while concerning, gives him time to reset both physically and mentally after a tough first two months.

For fantasy managers, the advice is simple: hold. Trading Raleigh now would mean selling at his absolute lowest value, and his upside remains undeniable once he's healthy and back in the lineup. This IL stint could be the reset he needs to rediscover his MVP form. Patience is key here—the power potential is still there, and a few good weeks could quickly turn his season around.