The Washington Nationals held their formal press conference for Cade Cavalli's contract extension on Friday
Exactly one week after the Washington Nationals announced a new four year deal for right handed pitcher Cade Cavalli, the team's ace admitted the moment was "pretty surreal" after becoming the organization's first contract extension since 2019.
News of a potential extension surfaced one day prior to the team's announcement with a new four year deal secured, including a team option for 2031.
Cavalli is also expected to receive a $4 million signing bonus on Nov. 30 as part of his new $47 million contract, which is considered to be a payment in anticipation of a possible lockout that derails the 2027 season. Cavalli is expected to earn $4 million in 2027, $7 million in 2028, $10 million in 2029 followed by $20 million in 2030. The team option escalates to $25 million in 2031 with a $2 million buyout.
The Nationals also added an extra incentive for Cavalli contingent on his finish in the Cy Young Award, escalating by $5 million in 2030 along with $7.5 million in 2031. If Cavalli wins the Cy Young award, he would earn a $5 million bonus followed by a $2.5 million bonus for a second place finish, a $1 million bonus for third, $750,000 bonus for fourth place and a $500,000 bonus for fifth place. The team friendly contract avoids Cavalli being eligible for free agency following the 2029 season, giving the fanbase a breakout piece to cling to as president of baseball operations Paul Toboni and the front office begin the next phase of the rebuild this offseason.
The Nationals previously announced that Cade Cavalli would be scratched from his final start of the regular season, ending a career season with a 13-5 record, 3.02 ERA, 1.16 WHIP along with 200 strikeouts. In addition to improving his strikeout total from 40 to 200 from 2025 to 2026, Cavalli became the eighth pitcher across the league to record 200 career strikeouts in addition to becoming one of two Nationals to record the feat.
Despite not being named an All Star alongside Foster Griffin, James Wood and CJ Abrams, Cavalli has lived up to his profile as an ace in the rotation that was expected from him in the preseason after posting an 8-1 record with a 1.90 ERA and 0.89 WHIP over the second half of the regular season.
Connelly Early, meanwhile, is scheduled to take the mound on Saturday to make his Nationals debut.
