Every Washington Nationals player filtered into the news conference room at Nationals Park on Friday afternoon, taking their seats among Cade Cavalli’s family, team ownership and staff members.
They were there to congratulate Cavalli, who last week signed a four-year, $47 million extension that buys out his final three years of arbitration and one year of free agency, with a club option for a second. And while it was an incredible moment for the right-hander amid a breakout season, it also could be an inflection point for the franchise.