Pagan exercised his $8 million player option for 2025 on Saturday.
Pagan was forced to sit out the first half of the season due to a lat injury, and he accumulated a 4.50 ERA across 38 innings upon returning in mid-August. Given his decline in performance, it was unlikely he'd receive an offer close to $8 million in free agency, so the 33-year-old righty will return to Cincinnati and likely fill a high-leverage role out of the bullpen.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Contract decision looming
Rotowire
Pagan has an $8 million option for the 2025 season that he's expected to exercise this offseason, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Pagan missed three months of the season with a lat injury, but returned to action Aug. 10 and finished the campaign healthy. He wasn't as effective as usual over his 38 innings in 2024 (4.50 ERA, 1.34 WHIP), and given that he would be unlikely to receive a contract exceeding $8 million on the open market, it makes sense for him to run it back with Cincinnati for another season.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Collects first save
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Pagan allowed two hits and a walk while striking out three over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Cardinals.
Alexis Diaz had pitched four of the previous five days, leaving this save chance up for grabs. Pagan nearly made a mess of it by loading the bases with no outs before fanning Jordan Walker, Thomas Saggese and Matt Carpenter to end the threat. Since returning from a lat injury in August, Pagan has been scored upon in just one of his 12 outings, though he gave up four runs in an inning in that misstep. He's at a 3.67 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 41:10 K:BB with one save and seven holds across 34.1 innings this year.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Working as opener Wednesday
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Pagan will serve as the Reds' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Pagan owns a 4.22 ERA and 1.36 WHIP through 21.1 innings on the season, though he threw a scoreless inning against the Brewers on Sunday in his first appearance since returning from the 60-day injured list. He's only made one appearance that lasted longer than one inning in 2024, so he'll likely only be asked to get through the Cardinals' first three batters before turning the game over to Carson Spiers, who is expected to pitch in bulk relief.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Comes off IL
Rotowire
The Reds reinstated Pagan (lat) from the 60-day injured list Saturday.
After three rehab outings, Pagan was given the green light to rejoin Cincinnati's bullpen. To make room for Pagan on the 26-man active roster, the Reds optioned right-hander Yosver Zulueta to Triple-A Louisville. Pagan turned in a 4.43 ERA and 1.38 WHIP while striking out 26 over 20.1 innings in 22 appearances before landing on the IL on June 9 with a right lat strain.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Could return vs. Brewers
Rotowire
Pagan (lat) is with the Reds for their weekend series against the Brewers, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Pagan began his rehab assignment Aug. 2, and after throwing two scoreless frames over his first two outings, he gave up two runs on two hits in one inning in his last appearance with Triple-A Louisville on Thursday. The 33-year-old reliever travelled with the team to Milwaukee and could be activated during the weekend series. Pagan has recorded three holds across 22 major-league appearances this season with a 4.43 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over 20.1 innings.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Makes first rehab outing
Rotowire
Pagan (lat) struck out one over one scoreless inning in his rehab appearance for Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
Pagan kicked off a rehab assignment Saturday and is expected to make three to five more appearances in the minors before being activated. He landed on the 15-day injured list in June then was transferred to the 60-day IL a few weeks later. Pagan is eligible to be activated Aug. 8.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Beginning rehab stint
Rotowire
Manager David Bell said Friday that Pagan (lat) will begin a rehab assignment Saturday and will require 3-to-5 outings before being activated from the injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The 33-year-old has been sidelined by a late strain since early June, and he should be ready to join the Reds shortly after he's first eligible to be activated Aug. 7. Pagan posted a 4.43 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB over 20.1 innings prior to landing on the 60-day IL.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Starts throwing again
Rotowire
Pagan (lat) began a throwing program July 2, MLB.com reports.
Pagan's throwing progression is expected to last most of the month before he reports to a minor-league affiliate for a rehab assignment. The right-hander is on the 60-day injured list with a right lat strain and won't be eligible for activation until Aug. 7.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Moved to 60-day IL
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The Reds transferred Pagan (lat) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Pagan landed on the injured list June 9 due to a strained right lat, and his move to the 60-day IL will ensure that he remains sidelined until at least early August. His 40-man roster spot will be given to Noelvi Marte, who was reinstated from his 80-game suspension Thursday.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Out with lat strain
Rotowire
Pagan was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right lat strain.
The right-hander returned from the injured list Thursday after he recovered from a triceps injury, but the lat strain will force him back to the injured list. According to Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer, Reds manager David Bell said Sunday that Pagan is expected to be out through at least the All-Star break.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Back from IL
Rotowire
The Reds reinstated Pagan (triceps) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Right triceps tightness had kept Pagan sidelined since May 19, but he made enough improvement over the past couple of weeks to make his return to the Cincinnati bullpen without the need of a rehab assignment prior to being activated. The 33-year-old righty owns a 4.19 ERA and 1.34 WHIP through 19.1 innings on the season.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Will return Thursday
Rotowire
Reds manager David Bell said Wednesday that Pagan (triceps) will be activated from the 15-day injured list Thursday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
He will have missed just over the minimum 15 days with a right triceps issue. Pagan has posted a 4.19 ERA, but also a 25:7 K:BB across 19.1 innings out of the Reds' bullpen in 2024.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Needs more time
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Pagan (triceps) is not expected to be activated when eligible June 4, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Reds manager David Bell indicated Pagan might need a few more days beyond the 15-day minimum. The right-handed reliever is expected to have one more side bullpen session. Pagan was added to the injured list after experiencing right triceps soreness during a game against the Dodgers on May 19.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Goes on IL with triceps injury
Rotowire
The Reds placed Pagan on the 15-day injured list prior to Thursday's game against the Padres due to right triceps tightness.
Pagan hadn't pitched since Sunday due to the injury, and though an MRI on his arm recently came back negative, the right-hander apparently didn't respond well to playing catch Tuesday. He'll be shut down for the next two weeks while recovering from the injury, depriving the Reds of one of their middle-relief options in front of closer Alexis Diaz.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Playing catch Tuesday
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Pagan (triceps) will attempt to play catch Tuesday after his MRI came back negative, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Pagan had to be lifted from an appearance against the Dodgers on Sunday, but it looks like he's avoided a serious injury. The Reds should have a better idea as to when he might be available out of the bullpen based on how Tuesday's catch session goes.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Club optimistic about injury
Rotowire
Pagan felt discomfort in his right triceps, which forced him to leave Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports
Pagan noted he did not feel anything until his final pitch and said it wasn't a sharp pain or a grab. The right-hander was examined by a Dodgers team doctor, who ran the reliever through some tests that left the Reds optimistic the injury is not a serious one. Pagan is expected to be seen by his own team's doctors Monday.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Exits early versus Dodgers
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Pagan (undisclosed) was removed from his appearance in the ninth inning versus the Dodgers on Sunday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Pagan entered the game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, ultimately escaping the frame when Teoscar Hernandez was caught stealing second. The right-hander returned for the bottom of the ninth, recording two outs before being removed with an apparent injury. More information on his status will likely be provided following Sunday's contest.
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Posts second win
Rotowire
Pagan (2-1) picked up the win over the Angels on Sunday. He allowed one hit and struck out one over two scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory.
Pagan was part of a huge effort from Cincinnati's bullpen, which fired 8.1 scoreless innings after Frankie Montas was removed when he took a comebacker of his right forearm. Pagan was the pitcher of record when the Reds scored all three runs in the bottom of the sixth. This was his first time pitching in five days, so Pagan was able to extend past his usual one-inning workload while also being efficient (22 pitches).
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Reds' Emilio Pagan: Earns win
Rotowire
Pagan (1-0) picked up the win in a 9-6 comeback victory over the Mets on Saturday. He allowed one hit over a scoreless eighth inning.
Pagan benefitted from Cincinnati's five-run uprising in the bottom of the eighth to earn his first win of the season. It's been a rocky start for Pagan, who is expected to serve as the primary setup reliever. He's still working off the impact of giving up two runs on Opening Day and has allowed two home runs through 4.2 innings. Pagan allowed just five homers in 69.1 innings last season for Minnesota.
