The Nationals’ new Cade Cavalli deal has already changed the conversation in Washington.
A 4-year, $47 million extension for the breakout starter is the kind of move that gets a fan base dreaming a little bigger, and now the next question is obvious: who gets paid next?
James Wood and CJ Abrams are still the most obvious long-term priorities. Both are the kind of talents you build around, and both would be tough sells in extension talks.
That doesn’t mean the Nationals should stop looking for other ways to get ahead of the curve. If anything, Cavalli’s deal suggests the front office may need to get creative while it waits to see whether its biggest stars are willing to commit.
One name that fits the bill is Andrew Alvarez. The left-hander doesn’t need to be rushed into anything, especially with his free agency not coming until 2032, but his 2026 season has been too important to ignore.
He’s helped steady the rotation, and that kind of stability matters. If Washington believes this version of Alvarez is real, buying out his arbitration years could make sense.
It would lock in a 27-year-old arm for the 2027 starting rotation and beyond, while also getting in front of a price tag that could rise quickly if he keeps pitching like this.
Daylen Lile belongs in the conversation too. He’s been one of the clearest players on the rise in the system, and this season has only strengthened the case that he can be part of the future lineup.
The defense has already made him useful in the outfield, but the bat is what has pushed him into extension territory. He has 21 home runs so far in 2026 and is hovering near the 90 RBI mark, which is the kind of offensive jump that changes how a team views a player.
President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni could look at Lile the way he once looked at Ceddanne Rafaela in Boston, where Rafaela got an 8 years, $50 million deal. If Lile keeps building on this offensive progress, there’s a real case for Washington to keep him around for the long haul.
Then there’s Eli Willits, the organization’s No. 1 prospect via MLB Pipeline. At 18, his climb has been incredibly fast, and he already looks like someone who could reach the majors within the next two seasons, if not sooner.
The Nationals may want to slow the pace and let him keep developing in the minors, but there’s also the chance he forces the issue. If that trajectory keeps going, he could eventually be looking at a massive payday - one that might put him out of Washington’s range if the club waits too long.
The Mariners’ 8-year, $95 million extension for Colt Emerson offers a possible blueprint.
Jarlin Susana is another prospect whose timeline could move quickly. The right-hander was on track for a huge season before an injury cut into his time on the mound, but his path to the big leagues - and to an extension - could still be accelerated.
Around the game, teams are increasingly giving long-term deals to prospects before they’ve even thrown a big league inning, and Washington could decide that’s worth exploring depending on how Susana looks through the offseason and into 2027 Spring Training. Toboni has seen that approach before, too, from his time in Boston, where the Red Sox worked out deals with Roman Anthony for 8 years, $130 million and Kristian Campbell for 8 years, $60 million.
Cavalli’s extension may be the first big move, but it doesn’t have to be the last.
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Red Wings Suddenly Face Pressure In A Playoff Race That Tightened
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Buffalos C.J. Van Eyk made sure the Red Wings never found a way back, keeping the offense quiet for most of his outing and turning the game into a reminder of how fragile the margin is in the standings. With the second-half race tightening across the league, every stumble matters, and Rochester now has to absorb this one quickly before the pressure of the chase starts to pile up. [Read more 🡒]