The Cincinnati Reds doubled down on stability in the ninth inning by bringing back Emilio Pagán on a two-year, $20 million deal with an opt-out after 2025.
This move locks in the back end of their bullpen and keeps the door open for bigger moves as the club eyes a deeper postseason push.
Reds Bet on Pagán’s Proven Closing Power
Re-signing Pagán isn’t just about rewarding a good season—it’s about keeping late-inning continuity.
After a rough, injury-filled 2024, the veteran righty came back strong in 2025 with the kind of year that front offices hope for.
Career Year in 2025 Anchors the Deal
Pagán, now 35, posted a career-high 32 saves and a 2.88 ERA over 68 2/3 innings in 2025.
The Reds leaned on him in close games, and his knack for converting saves and handling pressure became a big part of their bullpen’s identity.
The numbers back up why the Reds wanted him back:
Pagán misses bats, limits free passes, and when he’s healthy, he brings much-needed stability to the bullpen.
Risk and Reward: The Fly-Ball Factor
Pagán has real strengths, but the Reds know his flaws too.
His tendency to give up fly balls is the calculated risk here.
Home Run Vulnerability Still the Red Flag
Since 2017, he’s allowed 85 home runs, more than any other reliever—and 19 more than the next guy. That’s a huge gap.
In a home park that favors power hitters, that’s something the Reds have to keep an eye on.
Pagán makes up for it by pairing strikeouts with solid command, limiting baserunners so solo homers don’t become disasters.
Cincinnati’s coaches know exactly what they’re getting: a closer who can dominate when he’s on, but who’s vulnerable if he slips up even a little.
Pitch Mix Built for Modern Relief Work
What keeps teams coming back to Pagán isn’t just the results—it’s the way he gets them. His pitch mix fits what modern bullpens want.
Fastball Foundation, Splitter and Cutter as Weapons
Pagán’s arsenal is simple but effective:
This three-pitch mix gives him the tools to face any part of a lineup. That’s huge for a closer in today’s bullpen-heavy game.
Where Pagán Fits in the Reds’ Bullpen Puzzle
With Pagán set for the ninth, the Reds can plan the rest of the bullpen backwards. That’s a luxury a lot of teams just don’t have.
The setup group behind him looks solid, so Cincinnati has a credible—if not perfect—relief unit for now.
Left-Handed Depth Still a Priority
The big hole? Left-handed relief. Sam Moll is the only proven southpaw in the mix.
In a division loaded with lefty and switch-hitting threats, that’s just not enough.
They’ll probably look for at least one more lefty, whether it’s free agency or a trade. Another southpaw would balance things out and give the manager flexibility to protect Pagán from tough matchups late in games.
Payroll Flexibility and the Hunt for an Impact Bat
Bringing back Pagán is a big move, but the Reds aren’t done yet. They’ve got some financial wiggle room and still want to boost the lineup.
Schwarber and Alonso Headline Offensive Targets
Right now, Cincinnati’s payroll is in the $100–105 million range, leaving about $15–20 million to work with this winter.
President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall says they’re aiming for a $116 million payroll, maybe more if the right player comes along.
Two names keep coming up as impact bats:
The Reds are open to making trades to free up more cash, too. It feels like they’re ready to go after upgrades instead of just playing it safe this winter.
What Pagán’s Return Signals About the Reds’ Direction
Bringing back Emilio Pagán isn’t just a routine bullpen move. It says a lot about what the Reds want right now.
They’re not acting like a team stuck in a rebuild. Instead, they’re making moves like a club that believes it can win—and soon.
The Reds locked down the ninth inning with a closer who just had his best season. Sure, there’s risk in his fly-ball tendencies, but they’re betting on his upside.
They also kept enough room in the budget to chase a big bat if the right one pops up. Feels like Cincinnati wants more than just to hang around—they want to slam the door, both on the field and in the front office.
Here is the source article for this story: Reds To Re-Sign Emilio Pagán
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