The Detroit Tigers have agreed to a one-year contract worth $11.5 million with veteran reliever Emilio Pagán, as reported by Jon Heyman. The 35-year-old pitcher spent the last three seasons with the Cincinnati Reds before declining a $10 million player option to join Detroit.
Performance and Pitching Profile
Pagán recorded 25 saves in 45 appearances last year for the Reds, finishing the season with a 3.38 ERA and a 4.18 FIP. He posted a 25.9 percent strikeout rate alongside a low 6.3 percent walk rate. However, his performance comes with a high fly ball rate of 59.3 percent in 2026 and a home run rate of 1.48 per nine innings.
Throughout his career with teams including San Diego, Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Oakland, and Seattle, Pagán has consistently faced challenges with home runs. His home run per nine innings figures for the past three seasons stand at 1.42, 1.31, and 1.48. The Tigers are banking on Comerica Park to suppress home runs more effectively than Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark.
Pitch Selection and Next Steps
Pagán relies heavily on a four-seam fastball, which he threw 62.8 percent of the time last year at an average velocity of 94.9 mph. He complements the fastball with a cutter and a splitter, using the latter primarily against left-handed hitters to maintain balanced splits. Tigers general manager Scott Harris noted the appeal of such pitching flexibility during the GM Meetings.
The final details of the agreement remain pending the completion of a physical examination and the confirmation of any potential bonuses.
