News broke on Wednesday that the Cincinnati Reds agreed to terms on a contract with free-agent relief pitcher Emilio Pagán.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightingale, Pagán’s two-year, $16 million pact with the Reds makes him the highest-paid player on the team. In 2024, Pagán will make $8 million and will have a player option for the same amount for the 2025 season.
If you’re wondering, the next highest-paid player currently under contract is Hunter Greene, who is set to make $3 million in 2024. While the Reds have a very young, exciting roster, it just goes to show that the team isn’t exactly prioritizing its payroll. However, that could change in the coming days or weeks, especially considering that the team reportedly showed extensive interest in Sonny Gray, who wound up signing with the St. Louis Cardinals.
As for Pagán, the 32-year-old reliever is coming off a successful stint with the Minnesota Twins, in which he posted a 2.99 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP in 69.1 innings pitched last season. Prior to Minnesota, Pagán had stints with the Seattle Mariners, Oakland A’s, Tampa Bay Rays and San Diego Padres.
While the addition of Pagán could help fortify a Cincinnati bullpen that saw Derek Law and Buck Farmer become free agents, he hasn’t exactly been a steady hand; it’s why Pagán has been on five MLB teams in just seven seasons. So, it remains to be seen if he can be a reliable late-inning option, in front of closer Alexis Díaz.
