Emilio Pagán’s decision to opt out of his deal with the Cincinnati Reds leaves the club with a major offseason question and a little more financial breathing room.
The right-hander is headed back into free agency, giving him the chance to sign with any team he chooses after spending three seasons in Cincinnati. That stretch was his longest with one club in a 10-year MLB career, and he left behind a solid body of work: 3.5 WAR, a 3.44 ERA, and 58 saves across 153 appearances.
The move may have come as a surprise on the surface, but Pagán’s finish to the season made it easier to see why he would test the market. He was excellent in the second half, posting a 1.71 ERA over his final 27 appearances. Earlier in the year, though, he dealt with lower-body injuries that eventually landed him on the injured list.
For the Reds, the upside is financial. Pagán’s opt-out opens up money that can be redirected elsewhere, and Cincinnati has plenty of areas that need attention. That flexibility could even help with possible contract extensions for Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz.
But the baseball loss is just as clear. Pagán was the team’s closer and converted his last 19 save chances last season. That late surge is a big reason he felt comfortable walking away from the deal, and it also makes it likely he can secure a stronger contract on the open market.
Now Cincinnati has to figure out who takes over the back end of the bullpen. The Reds can look at free agency or the trade market, but they also have internal candidates already in place.
Luis Mey flashed real upside at times, powered by a nasty slider and a triple-digit sinker. When he’s around the strike zone consistently, as he was late in the season, he can be a major weapon.
Graham Ashcraft is another possibility, though his own track record has included plenty of rough patches. Tejay Antone is also in the mix.
However it shakes out, the Reds need a solution, and they need it before next season arrives.
In Other News...
Reds Suddenly Face A Bullpen Reset With Big Money Decisions Ahead
The Reds spent the first week of the offseason making a clear financial statement, declining the 2027 contract options for Emilio Pagan, Eugenio Suarez and Pierce Johnson. It is the kind of move that instantly reshapes the pitching picture and trims future commitments, even if it leaves a few familiar names suddenly on the open market.
Pagans situation is the one that stands out most, since he has handled closing duties for Cincinnati over the past two seasons and is now positioned to test free agency after turning down his $10 million option. Suarez and Johnson are also free agents after the club passed on their mutual options, with Johnsons exit including a $1 million buyout, and the Reds now have a bullpen reset to manage while bigger money decisions loom ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Just Created Flexibility That Could Reopen A Familiar Question
The Reds spent the early part of the offseason clearing some immediate payroll and roster space, and the latest moves only sharpen that picture. Cincinnati declined the mutual contract options on right-hander Pierce Johnson and infielder Eugenio Suarez, while Emilio Pagan announced he will decline his $10 million option, leaving the club with a lighter 40-man roster and a little more financial breathing room heading toward 2027.
For a team that has spent plenty of time balancing present needs against future flexibility, that kind of maneuvering matters. It also reopens a familiar question about how aggressively the Reds want to pursue help in the infield and on the mound, even as two recognizable names now head into free agency and the front office keeps its options open. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Could Have A Cheaper Rotation Answer This Winter
The Reds were linked to Nick Martinez last winter before choosing to add Eugenio Surez instead, and the right-handers name is back in the conversation as another offseason arrives. Martinez is expected to hit free agency again after his run with the Rays, but the market projection around him suggests Cincinnati would be looking at a pricier rotation piece than it may want to chase this time around.
That is why Aaron Civale has surfaced as a more realistic fit for the Reds if they want to add a starter without pushing too far into the upper tier of the market. Civales recent performance and free-agent status make him an appealing alternative on paper, especially for a club that has shown interest in shoring up the rotation while keeping its spending flexible. [Read more 🡒]