🔥 Reds Shock Fans with Offseason Dilemma: Will Emilio Pagán Return After Career-Defining Season?
— Veteran closer proves he’s still got it, but will Cincinnati pay the price to keep him?
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⚾ From Playoff Heartbreak to Offseason Uncertainty
The Cincinnati Reds’ postseason hopes came crashing down after being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking an abrupt end to a promising season. Now, as the offseason begins, attention turns to one of their biggest free-agent questions — closer Emilio Pagán.
The veteran reliever told The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Gordon Wittenmyer that he’d “love to be back and run it back with them.” But while that sounds good on paper, everyone knows talk is cheap — especially when free agency money is on the line.
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Emilio Pagan
💰 Reds Can’t Spend Like the Dodgers — But They’ve Got Options
Cincinnati may not have the deep pockets of MLB’s powerhouses, but they’re far from broke. The Reds have enough flexibility to make a real offer, and if the numbers match, Pagán could easily choose loyalty over luxury.
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Emilio Pagan
🔥 From Forgotten Arm to Dominant Closer
Pagán’s 2025 campaign was nothing short of a comeback story. After bouncing between roles in recent years, he finally cemented himself as the Reds’ go-to guy in the ninth inning.
• 32 saves (career high)
• 2.88 ERA
• 70 games, 68.2 innings pitched
• 81 strikeouts, 22 walks, only 41 hits allowed
He stepped up when the team desperately needed stability — especially after Ian Gibaut’s Opening Day meltdownthat blew the first game of the year. From that point on, Pagán locked down the closer role and never looked back.
Emilio Pagan
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🧠 The Veteran Who Defied the Modern Mold
At 35 years old, Pagán doesn’t fit today’s closer stereotype — no triple-digit fastballs or flashy deliveries. But what he does bring is poise, precision, and presence. In a bullpen full of youth and inconsistency, his experience became Cincinnati’s anchor.
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💵 The Big Question: Will the Reds Pay Up?
Pagán earned $8 million in each of the last two seasons — a solid salary, though not top-tier closer money. Given his age, he’s unlikely to get a long-term or massive deal elsewhere.
Still, if the Reds want to keep him, they’ll need to match or slightly raise that figure and offer a multi-year deal. Anything less, and he could easily walk for a contender in need of a steady veteran arm.
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🚨 Final Pitch: The Reds Can’t Afford to Lose Another Leader
Emilio Pagán gave Cincinnati everything they hoped for — reliability, leadership, and late-game confidence. The Reds now face a choice:
pay up to keep their proven closer, or risk watching another veteran walk out the door.
Because if they don’t move fast, another team will.
