The agreement would mark the first extension and long-term deal completed by new team president Paul Toboni.
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Right-handed starter Cade Cavalli and the Washington Nationals are nearing an agreement on a contract extension, a source familiar with the deal told The Washington Post.
It’s the first extension and long-term deal completed by team president Paul Toboni, who took over the position last September, and the first pre-arbitration deal completed by the team since catcher Keibert Ruiz signed an eight-year, $50 million extension in 2023.
Robert Murray of FanSided was the first to report that a deal was close.
Cavalli, 28, was drafted in the first round by the Nationals in 2020 and made his major league debut in 2022. He underwent Tommy John surgery the following year, and complications, plus a bad case of the flu, halted his comeback in 2024. He finally returned at the end of 2025 and started the 2026 season healthy.
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Cavalli came into spring training armed with a sweeper to use against right-handed hitters and was named the Nationals’ Opening Day starter. The team wasn’t entirely sure what to expect with Cavalli, but the right-hander has only gotten stronger as the season’s gone on, pitching to a 2.05 ERA in the second half.
Cavalli should enter the 2027 season as the Nationals’ ace, leading a rotation that could include Andrew Alvarez, Jake Irvin and Connelly Early. Josiah Gray and DJ Herz, who are both nearing returns from their own lengthy Tommy John recoveries, are also contenders for starting roles.
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