Nationals to sign ace Cade Cavalli to four-year contract extension

Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Nationals to sign ace Cade Cavalli to four-year contract extension

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated Sep 18, 2026 5:10 PM ET

The Washington Nationals have locked in starting pitcher Cade Cavalli to a four-year, $47 million contract extension through the 2030 season, with a club option for 2031. The club option brings the total value of the deal to $70 million

The deal also gives the team control of the Nats' elite ground-ball pitcher for five more seasons (including two free-agent seasons) at a cost-effective price. Cavalli has dominated as the team's ace with a 50.8% ground ball rate and a 28.2 % strikeout rate.

It comes as no surprise, as on Thursday talks had already surfaced about the team coming close to a contract extension. The extension is well-deserved, following a lengthy time spent on the IL since 2022, recovering from shoulder inflammation, Tommy John surgery and injury setbacks.

The 28-year-old has emerged as a dominant force in the Nationals rotation this season, boasting a 12-5 record with a 3.12 ERA and 1.17 WHIP and 194 strikeouts across 31 games. Despite the team's struggles, sitting fourth in the NL East (71-82), he's been a bright spot in the team's starting rotation.

Cade Cavalli to sign a 4-year extension with the Nationals. pic.twitter.com/1CMBUoV2AF
— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) September 18, 2026

Cade Cavalli's contract extension solidifies him as a future ace for the Nationals

Cavalli's breakout campaign has allowed him to put up career-best numbers, and now he's here to stabilize their rotation for the long haul.

Cavalli follows former Nationals legend Max Scherzer, who signed as a free agent with Washington on a seven-year, $210 million deal. In addition to former star Stephen Strasburg, who signed two hefty contracts during his successful tenure with the team.

He signed a seven-year, $175 million extension in 2016, followed by a massive seven-year, $245 million deal in 2019 following him winning World Series MVP.

With the continuous amount of setbacks that Cavalli faced during his recovery, he has to feel gratification for being cemented into Nationals history. And to think that some believed he was better off in the bullpen, while some criticized him for his early struggles in April. But it didn't take him long to find his rhythm and silence the critics with his masterclass performance this season.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

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