Reds may have caught a break with Emilio Pagán joining the Tigers

The idea of Emilio Pagán reuniting with the Cincinnati Reds is no longer an option. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, Pagán reportedly signed a one-year, $11 million contract with the Detroit Tigers.

Earlier this month, Pagán opted out of the contract he signed with the Reds last winter and will now take home an extra $1 million. Though Cincinnati will now be in the market for a new closer heading into the 2027 season, this could be a blessing in disguise for the Reds.

Tigers signing Emilio Pagán allows Reds to fill other roster holes

Pagán had an up-and-down season for the Reds in 2026. He looked absolutely dreadful to begin the year with a 6.43 ERA and 5.81 FIP through May 5. The right-hander then landed on the injured list with a hamstring strain and missed about two months of action.

He returned in July and became one of the most dominant closers in baseball down the stretch to the tune of a 1.88 ERA and 3.38 FIP over his final 30 relief appearances. That performance gave Pagán an opportunity to cash in on the opt-out clause in the final year of contract with Cincinnati, and he'll be $1 million richer because of it.

But Pagán's exit now gives Cincinnati an opportunity they may not have expected heading into the offseason. While they'll have to replace arguably their most reliable reliever, they'll have an extra $10 million to do it.

But Reds' fans shouldn't expect the front office to splurge and dump $10 million on one bullpen arm — and that's the point. Cincinnati's roster is filled with countless holes, and having some extra cash on hand will undoubtedly help in their rebuilding efforts.

The Reds have multiple holes on the infield, the outfield, the starting rotation, and the bullpen. Tying up $10 million in what some consider to be a luxury position seems rather foolish given the litany of problems facing the roster heading into the offseason.

Unless the Reds decide to sign another high-leverage reliever — which seems unlikely — fans should probably look for a competition during spring training to decide Pagán's successor. Graham Ashcraft, Tony Santillan, and Tejay Antone would all be viable candidates to take over as the Reds' closer in 2027.

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