The Washington Nationals have locked in their ace pitcher after announcing a four year deal with right hander Cade Cavalli
One day after news surfaced about the possibility, the Washington Nationals have now locked up a new deal with right handed pitcher Cade Cavalli.
The team announced that Cavalli has agreed to a four year contract extension through the 2030 season with a club option for 2031, locking in the team's ace as a key part of the foundation alongside CJ Abrams and James Wood. Cavalli's deal includes $47 million guaranteed and $70 million if the 2031 option is picked up, per multiple reports.
Since the All Star break, Cavalli owns a 7-1 record with a 2.05 ERA and 84 strikeouts while becoming the clear ace in the rotation, seamlessly filling the void after Foster Griffin was dealt prior to the trade deadline.
Through 31 appearances and 164.2 innings pitched in 2026, Cavalli owns a 12-5 record with a 3.12 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. His 194 strikeouts this season are tied with multiple pitchers for eighth most across all of baseball.
Cavalli has also lasted at least six innings in all but one of his last 13 starts, while he has tossed at least eight strikeouts in each of his last three appearances and in eight games since July 12. Cavalli also eclipsed double digit strikeouts twice in August, but that also came after setting a new career high with 13 strikeouts against the Boston Red Sox back on June 30.
His 12 wins in 2026 are ranked with multiple pitchers across baseball for the 19th-most, an impressive feat after entering the season just 3-2 across 11 career starts between 2022 and 2025. He battled through Tommy John surgery that derailed his 2023 season before influenza and arm injuries limited him to three minor league appearances in 2024. Cavalli then opened the 2025 season in Triple A Rochester before getting the chance to prove himself with the Nationals once more, doing so by becoming the sixth pitcher in team history to record 12 or more strikeouts in his first two appearances.
It's been clear that Cavalli has cemented himself as a dependable piece in a rotation that is expected to feature Connelly Early with a potential debut in 2027, yet the question will turn to what the Nationals do to support the rest of the pitching staff, whether it be the rest of the rotation or bullpen.
The newest long-term piece is also expected to take the mound to kick off the series against the St. Louis Cardinals beginning Friday night in the final road trip of the 2026 regular season, doing so while still leading the Nationals' pitching staff with a 3.5 WAR.
