Cavalli Locked In as Washington Builds Around Its Ace

The Nationals have signed Cade Cavalli to a four-year extension, committing to the right-hander as the centerpiece of a rotation they intend to build around. The deal comes during a season in which Cavalli has been Washington's most reliable starter, posting a 13-6 record with a 2.82 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 181.7 innings in 35 appearances — numbers that stand well clear of anyone else in the staff.

The timing is notable. Washington sits 69-78, fourth in the NL East and well out of playoff contention, with an elimination number of three and 15 games remaining. This is a franchise still in the middle of a rebuild, and locking up a starter performing at this level before he reaches open market is the kind of move that defines whether a rebuild has a foundation or just a direction.

Foster Griffin has also been strong this year — 13-4, 3.10 ERA, a 2026 NL All-Star — and together the two give Washington a legitimate top of the rotation to anchor whatever comes next. The rest of the staff has been inconsistent, and the injury list remains long. Cavalli's extension doesn't fix any of that. It does, however, give the organization something concrete to point to as the 2026 season winds down without much else to play for.