Predicting the Reds 2024 Opening Day bullpen with the addition of Emilio Pagán

The Cincinnati Reds made their first major-league signing of the offseason on Wednseday and inked relief pitcher Emilio Pagán to a two-year/$16-million contract.

After seeing how utterly exhausted the relief corps was in 2023, Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall knew that he needed to rework the bullpen this offseason.

While the Reds 2024 roster is far from a finished product, knowing what we know now, how is the Cincinnati bullpen shaping up for next season?

Predicting the Reds 2024 Opening Day bullpen with the addition of Emilio Pagán

The Cincinnati Reds will inevitably have Alexis Diaz at the back of the bullpen in 2024. While more times than not Diaz was called upon to close out games, there were occasions when manager David Bell inserted the right-hander into the game before the ninth inning.

Emilio Pagán has experience closing games, but don't look for the veteran's signing to impact Diaz's role with the Reds in 2024. Diaz will get the lion's share of save opportunities next season.

Pagán should slot very nicely into the Reds bullpen alongside Fernando Cruz, Lucas Sims, and Sam Moll. Those four pitchers should be utilized in the seventh and eighth innings when Cincinnati has the lead, and will act as the bridge to Diaz.

Adding Pagán helps to move Ian Gibaut into his rightful place in the Reds' bullpen hierarchy. Gibaut was punching above his weight-class last season, and a return to working in the sixt and seventh inning will be a welcome change for Cincinnati's leader in relief appearances last season.

If healthy, Reds fans can expect to see Tejay Antone on the 2024 Opening Day roster. Antone made it all the way back from his second Tommy John surgery, but a late-season injury prematurely ended his 2023 return.

Antone's role is unclear at the moment, but the addition of Emilio Pagán certainly helps to mitigate the uncertainty surrounding Captain Hook. Having Antone in the bullpen next season should be considered a luxury.

Finally, one has assume that Alex Young has the inside track to be part of the Cincinnati Reds 2024 Opening Day bullpen. Unless the Reds add a left-handed reliever this offseason, look for Young to join fellow southpaw Sam Moll in the bullpen.