Emilio Pagán’s future in Cincinnati is back in the spotlight, and Terry Francona is making it clear he’d like to keep the Reds closer around.
Pagán turned down his player option last week, passing on the final year of his deal and heading into free agency for the third time in four years. That doesn’t rule out a return to Cincinnati, though, and Francona sounded eager to see the sides work something out.
The Reds Hot Stove League radio show brought Francona on as a guest this week, and he didn’t hide how strongly he feels about Pagán.
"I love the guy," Francona said. "You know, he's such a phenomenal teammate.
He bailed us out. You know, when we made him the closer, it allows you to work from back to front when you know there's an end in sight.
I'm not giving up on him coming back. He has the right to test the market, but I don't think it's any secret how much I've enjoyed him, and how much I respect him, and how much I love him."
Pagán’s path to this point has been a little uneven, but the finish to his season gave the Reds plenty to think about. He hit free agency last winter after putting up a 2.88 ERA in 70 relief appearances and setting a career high with 32 saves. Cincinnati then brought him back on a two-year, $20 million contract.
His 2026 season started rough. Through his first 15 outings, Pagán carried a 6.43 ERA and 5.81 FIP. He had six saves, but he also blew three, and his strikeout rate sat at 17.7% against the hitters he faced.
Then came the injury scare in early May against the Chicago Cubs, when it looked like his season might be over. Instead, Pagán made it back in July and finished as one of the most effective relievers in baseball over the final three months. In 28⅔ innings, he struck out 34 batters, posted a 1.88 ERA and converted all 19 of his save chances.
If Pagán lands somewhere else, the Reds would at least free up $10 million to spend elsewhere. But they’d also be staring at a real hole in the back end of the bullpen, especially after how shaky things got while he was sidelined in May and June. During that stretch, Reds relievers blew eight saves and posted a 5.38 ERA with a 12.5% walk rate.
In Other News...
Sal Stewart Put Cincinnati In Position For Another Rookie Honor
Sal Stewart has put himself in position for another rookie honor, landing among the finalists for the Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger award in the utility player category. For Cincinnati, it is another sign that Stewarts first season carried real weight, even if the broader offensive profile does not look quite as polished as some of the other names in the mix.
The competition now shifts to the managers and coaches who will vote in the coming weeks, and Stewarts case is an interesting one. He brings the kind of production that jumps out quickly, while the advanced numbers suggest a more complicated comparison with the rest of the field, leaving the final decision to how evaluators balance raw output against overall offensive efficiency. [Read more 🡒]
Two Reds Bats Just Put Cincinnati In The Silver Slugger Spotlight
Major League Baseballs Silver Slugger finalists list gave the Reds a notable boost, with Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart both landing among the leagues top bats at their positions. De La Cruz is in the shortstop mix, while Stewart earned a spot as a utility finalist, a reminder that Cincinnatis lineup is starting to draw real national recognition beyond just the box scores.
The winners will be determined by MLB managers and coaches, which gives the honor a different kind of weight than a fan vote or a hot streak. For the Reds, having two players in the conversation is the kind of late-season recognition that reflects both star power and lineup depth, with the final call still to come later this month. [Read more 🡒]
Noelvi Marte Is Giving The Reds A Reason To Reconsider Him
Noelvi Marte has spent a lot of time trying to get his career back on track, and this winter in the Dominican Republic has at least given the Reds something to think about. After a rough stretch marked by performance issues and a PED suspension, the 23-year-old has looked more like the bat the organization once hoped it was getting, turning in a much better showing for Gigantes del Cibao.
The sample is still small, and winter ball can only tell so much, but it matters because Cincinnati has not closed the book on Marte. If the progress carries over, he could reinsert himself into the conversation as a right-handed option for a club that is still sorting out its future in the outfield. For now, it is less a breakthrough than a reminder that there may still be a path back for a player the Reds would love to reclaim. [Read more 🡒]