Nationals Avoid Arbitration With Cavalli Via Club-Option Deal
The Washington Nationals avoided arbitration with right-hander Cade Cavalli by agreeing to a one-year 2026 contract that includes a club option for 2027. The 2026 salary is about $862.5K, and the club option carries a $4M value with a $7,500 buyout, guaranteeing Cavalli roughly $870K overall. The multi-year setup sidesteps arbitration precedent, and Cavalli comes off a 2025 showing (4.25 ERA over ten starts) that suggests mid-rotation potential behind a group that could include MacKenzie Gore, Josiah Gray, Jake Irvin, and others.
