Pitcher Cade Cavalli and Nationals avoided salary arbitration with this agreement for $870,000 for one season
WASHINGTON — Right-hander Cade Cavalli and the Washington Nationals avoided salary arbitration Sunday by agreeing to a one-year, $870,000 contract that includes a team option for 2027.
When the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries on Jan. 8, Cavalli asked for $900,000 and the Nationals offered $825,000. The difference of $75,000 was the smallest among the 18 players who did not reach an agreement with their clubs on the day of the trade.
His agreement calls for a salary of $862,500 this year, the midpoint between the figures presented. The team option is $4 million with a buyout clause of $7,500.
Cavalli, 27, was eligible for arbitration for the first time after going 3-1 with a 4.25 ERA in 10 starts in his first major league appearance in the regular season since 2022. He had a salary of $760,200 in the majors and $370,100 in the minors, for a total of $579,832.
Taken by Washington with the 22nd overall pick in the 2020 amateur draft, he made his major league debut on August 26, 2022, his only appearance that year. He injured his arm during a preseason game against the New York Mets on March 14, 2023, and underwent Tommy John surgery a week later.
He began his rehabilitation in the Minor Leagues on May 20, 2024, but only played three games, totaling 8.1 innings.
Cavalli began the 2025 season in Class A Fredericksburg and was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg on April 24 and Triple-A Rochester five days later. He returned to the majors on August 6 after finishing with a 4-17 record and a 5.47 ERA in 17 starts in the Minors last year. Cavalli pitched 4.1 scoreless innings against the Athletics in his return and earned his first major league victory on August 16 against Philadelphia.
A total of 17 players remain scheduled for hearings, which will be held from January 26 to February 13 in Scottdale, Arizona.
In the most notable case, two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal asked for a record $32 million, while the Detroit Tigers offered him $19 million.
