The Washington Nationals are moving toward a deal that would keep Cade Cavalli in the fold for the long haul.
According to Robert Murray of FanSided, the Nationals and Cavalli “are close on a contract extension.” Murray added that nothing is finalized yet, but “there is optimism” the two sides can work something out that would keep the right-hander in Washington for the foreseeable future.
No terms have been reported, and that part of the picture is still being sorted out. Even so, the mere fact that an extension is on the table says plenty about how the organization is operating under president of baseball operations Paul Toboni.
When Toboni came in, MacKenzie Gore was the face of the rotation. Toboni moved the left-hander in order to help restock the farm system, then handed the ace label to Cavalli despite his limited major league track record after missing time because of Tommy John surgery.
Cavalli has answered with a strong season. He has put up a 3.12 ERA over 31 starts and 164 2/3 innings, and he’s been even sharper after the break, logging a 2.05 ERA across 11 starts. In that stretch, he has piled up 84 strikeouts against 16 walks over 66 innings.
That kind of production has made the bet look like a smart one. The Nationals now have a legitimate No. 1 starter at age 28, and they’re trying to make sure he stays in place.
There’s also a bigger organizational message here. Since the 2019 World Series-winning season, Washington has given its fans plenty more frustration than payoff, with losing seasons and stars either leaving in free agency or getting dealt away. Locking in Cavalli would signal a different approach, one that suggests the franchise and ownership are ready to keep more of their best players around.
It could also matter for what comes next. If Cavalli gets extended, it may be the first major step in a larger push to build around names like James Wood, Daylen Lile, CJ Abrams, elite prospect Eli Willits and the other top talents in the system.
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