Emilio Pagan’s run as the Reds’ closer is over, and the next stop is Detroit.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, Pagan has agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal with the Tigers after turning down his $10 million player option with Cincinnati and entering free agency. The move means the Reds will need a new answer in the ninth inning for 2027.
What stands out most is the length of the contract. Pagan appeared to be aiming for something longer after two strong seasons in Cincinnati, but the market brought him a one-year deal instead. In practical terms, he’ll make only $1 million more than he would have earned by simply staying put.
There is a chance the contract includes an option, though no reports had confirmed that as of 12:39 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday morning.
Pagan was a steady presence for Cincinnati over the last two years. In 2025, he saved 32 games and posted a 2.88 ERA in 70 appearances. He followed that in 2026 with a 3.38 ERA and 25 saves in 45 outings, even while dealing with a hamstring injury that sidelined him for nearly two months.
Once he came back from the injured list, he was excellent. Over his final 30 appearances, Pagan put up a 1.88 ERA and nailed down all 19 of his save chances.
That makes the decision to leave for a one-year deal worth only a modest bump all the more notable. It’s possible Pagan saw a better path to winning in Detroit, though that remains speculation. The Reds are coming off a 75-87 season and have plenty of roster questions to sort through, so there’s no guarantee they’ll be in the playoff mix next year.
It’s also unclear whether Cincinnati tried to bring him back after he declined his option. Detroit may simply have been the best fit available.
Either way, the Reds now have another major offseason task on their hands: finding someone who can handle the ninth inning. That could come from inside the organization or via free agency.
Pagan gave Cincinnati quality work, but a long-term commitment to a reliever who will soon be 36 carried real risk. With so many other needs to address, the Reds may have decided to move on. Still, seeing him land on a one-year, $11 million deal makes the whole situation a little more surprising.
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