What happened: A 2031 club option would push the package to $70 million. The extension locks in Cavalli beyond the current season on terms that can stretch into the next decade.
Why it matters: Locking in a key starter now gives D.C. cost certainty around a rotation piece that has surged during the 2026 season. It also buys out at least one of Cavalli's potential free-agent years, with the option year potentially covering a second.
By the numbers: Cavalli carried a 2.43 ERA and 45 strikeouts over a six-start run into late July; by Aug. 20, he had posted eight straight quality starts and an 11-strikeout game.
What to watch: The next material detail is the full year-by-year salary breakdown and the exact value of the 2031 option. Cavalli's remaining 2026 starts now become the immediate on-field follow-through to the extension.