Reds pitcher Hunter Greene discusses his MLB playoff debut, Wild Card loss to Dodgers
Reds pitcher Hunter Greene talks about his MLB playoff debut, Wild Card loss to Dodgers
The Cincinnati Reds need to address their bullpen, specifically the ninth inning, and keeping free agent Emilio Pagan would be a good first step.Pagan was 32-for-38 in save opportunities with a 2.88 ERA.
When the Cincinnati Reds dive into their offseason roster building for a 2026 season of higher expectations, the biggest obvious pursuit should involve the starting lineup.
But the first order of business?
They should plan to start with how they plan to finish.
Because for all that young, high-velocity pitching they integrated into their bullpen down the stretch to help reach the playoffs, nobody was more important all season than the veteran setup man they successfully leveraged in the closer role in April: Emilio Pagán.
“I’d love to be back and run it back with them and take another run at it,” said the pending free agent, who had 33 career saves in eight big-league seasons before going 32-for-38 this year with a 2.88 ERA. “Nothing’s guaranteed in this game. So we’ll see what happens.”
“I love these guys. They know that.”
As they head into their first full business week of the offseason, the Reds haven’t approached Pagán about an extension (or anyone else).
But the Reds share a mutual respect and affection for a pitcher who was a stabilizing influence for the bullpen not only on the mound but in the clubhouse the past two seasons — which might make their continued partnership a matter of how seriously and quickly the Reds start talking to Pagán after the right-hander raised his free agent stock with the big season in the clutch role.
“Emilio Pagán has been a quality veteran leader for two years,” team president Nick Krall said. “He’s been a quality guy on this team. He’s second in the league in saves. He absolutely fits in our bullpen. He fits in the culture of our bullpen. He’d be tremendous to have back. He’s a great guy.”
So how’s that work within this bond of mutual affection and the realities of a marketplace that figures to value Pagán in a higher tier of players than when the Reds nabbed him on that two-year $16 million deal after 2023?
At 34, he’s not likely to command a long-term deal. But even a two- or three-year extension almost certainly would mean more than $8 million a year.
“I don’t know what we’re going to be able to do or where we are in free agency,” Krall said. “We’ve got to get to that point.
“You’ve got a handful of guys that have decisions (we have to make) in the bullpen to continue to make it a strong group of guys.”
The Reds’ bullpen finished stronger than it started with big rookie arms joining the mix down the stretch and looking like important pieces into next season. Between that development and an entire starting rotation under club control into next season (only Zack Littell and swingman Nick Martinez are free agents), the Reds might be able to put most of their attention on fixes for the lineup if they can get the the veteran back end of the pen nailed down sooner rather than later.
As much as Pagán says he and his family love the city and their experience with the Reds, few in the clubhouse understand the business of the game as well as he does.
“I’ve made more money than I ever dreamed of making,” he said. “Obviously, we owe it to the future as a player to get what we’re worth. If guys take quote-unquote bad deals, then if somebody in the future has those (production) numbers, then their market might not be what it should be.
“But I try not to focus on that,” he said. ”I know where I want to play. I want to play here. And hopefully we can figure that out.”
Pagán, who signed for $5,000 as a 10th-round draft pick of the Mariners out of junior college in 2013, has made more than $24 million in his career since then.
He said the business side will take care of itself.
“I’ve done more than even my wildest dreams could have been in this game,” he said, “so I’m grateful for what could possibly be coming.
“It’s good to feel wanted. It’s no secret that free agency can be super impactful for individuals,” he added. “But it’s not something I’m worried about. I want to be in a place where my family’s happy, and we have a chance to win games.”
If anything, he might want another shot at that after the quick two-game sweep in Los Angeles. He was the only pitcher in the Reds’ bullpen who didn’t pitch in the series because the Reds never had the lead late.
This is a guy who retired $341 million Francisco Lindor, $765 million Juan Soto and $54 million Pete Alonso in order with two men on base in the ninth to close a 5-2 win on the road and then called it “the most fun inning I’ve ever had on the mound.”
Beyond his motivation to win and his ability to succeed in a high-leverage role, Pagán’s embrace of a mentor role for the likes of power-pitching rookies Connor Phillips, Zach Maxwell, Chase Burns and Luis Mey is especially valuable to this team – something that both Krall and manager Terry Francona have praised this year.
“I’ve thought about that even back in my college days,” Pagán said. “It’s important to have players who have seen what it looks like to win at that level.
“I would hope that I’ve made enough of an impact where my reputation as a person and as a player is a valuable piece to a clubhouse and to a team,” he added. “Specifically, with the Reds and with the young guys that we have, I’ve obviously built relationships with these guys, and it’s been fun watching them grow and develop and really be huge parts of this team. I would love to be with them moving forward and continue to watch their career development and see what could happen for them.”
Anyone wondering how much the Pagán family invested themselves into the fabric of the team and community didn’t see Emilio’s wife, Jordyn, show up for all three must-win games in Milwaukee wearing an inflatable cockroach costume for the final weekend of the season.
“My family loves it here,” he said, adding the competitive appeal matches the personal appeal. “We’ve got the right manager. Playing for Tito has been awesome. Everything that I look for is here.
“Hopefully, we can figure out a way to be a part of this for a long time.”