Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pagán just made a massive move, declining his $10 million player option for 2027 and hitting the free agent market. This leaves the last-place club with another hole to fill as they look to next year, especially after also declining mutual options with designated hitter Eugenio Suárez and reliever Pierce Johnson on the October 31 deadline.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Why Pagán Is Worth Every Penny
Let’s be real, Pagán’s decision isn’t exactly a shocker when you look at his performance. He’s been among the best closers in the league for the last two seasons. Just this year, after coming back from a nasty hamstring injury in early July, he converted 19 of 19 save chances with a ridiculous 1.88 ERA. That’s lockdown stuff. Back in 2025, he earned a career-high 32 saves with a 2.88 ERA, anchoring the Reds’ playoff bullpen. This dude can pitch, even at 35. That hamstring injury, by the way, happened way back on April 14, 2026, in a tight 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants. So, for him to come back and be *that* good, it just screams value. It’s no wonder everyone expects him to blow past that $10 million on his next deal.
Free Agency Frenzy Looms for Pagán and the Reds
So, what’s next? Pagán is eligible to talk to other teams starting November 2, if no new deal is in place with Cincinnati. The Reds did have some initial discussions about an extended deal before the option deadline, but nothing was actively on the table when that clock hit midnight on October 31. Pagán has repeatedly made it clear he loved his time with the Reds and that his family enjoys the city, and the team echoed those sentiments, valuing his veteran leadership almost as much as his saves. Neither side has ruled out a reunion during free agency, which honestly, is probably for the best because this whole period is set to get wild. A labor lockout is practically certain to interrupt things on December 1, so both sides might want to move fast. Pagán’s original two-year deal with the Reds expired in 2024, and he ended up back with them on the contract he just opted out of, a deal that was actually signed *before* he became their closer. Talk about timing.
The ball is in Pagán’s court now, and the clock is ticking on a potential reunion before that November 2 deadline for other team talks. With a December 1 labor lockout threat hanging over the whole league, whatever happens, Pagán’s decision just cranked up the heat on a last-place Reds team desperate for answers.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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