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Nationals Extend Cade Cavalli With $47M Deal Through 2030

By Drooid · Sep 19, 2026, 3:13 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The Washington Nationals signed right-hander Cade Cavalli to a four-year contract extension.
The deal guarantees $47 million through 2030 and includes a 2031 club option that could total $70 million.
Cavalli posted a 12-5 record with a 3.12 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and 194 strikeouts in 2026.
He recorded a 2.05 ERA and 84 strikeouts in his last 11 starts.
The extension is the Nationals’ first multi-year starter contract since Stephen Strasburg’s 2019 deal.

History

Historical Context

After MLB abolished the reserve clause in the 1970s, salaries surged—Nolan Ryan became the first pitcher to earn $1 million a year in 1979 and Alex Rodriguez signed a $252 million, 10-year deal in 2000. Building on that pattern, the Yankees locked Roger Clemens in a long-term pact before the 2000 season, and Washington’s 2026 four-year, $47 million extension for Cade Cavalli mirrors the league’s escalating payroll commitments.

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Story summary

The Washington Nationals signed right-hander Cade Cavalli to a four-year contract extension.
The deal guarantees $47 million through 2030 and includes a 2031 club option that could total $70 million.
Cavalli posted a 12-5 record with a 3.12 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and 194 strikeouts in 2026.
He recorded a 2.05 ERA and 84 strikeouts in his last 11 starts.
The extension is the Nationals’ first multi-year starter contract since Stephen Strasburg’s 2019 deal.

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