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Reds reunion with Emilio Pagán gets a major boost following Terry Francona’s remarks

Will Emilio Pagán re-sign with the Cincinnati Reds this offseason? His manager, Terry Francona, certainly sounds optimistic.

By Drew Koch · Blog Red Machine

Published: Thursday, 5 November 2026 at 12:37 PM

Key Things to Know

Terry Francona publicly expressed strong interest in re-signing free-agent closer Emilio Pagán to the Cincinnati Reds.
Pagán declined his player option for the final year of his contract to enter free agency.
After returning from injury in July, Pagán went 19-for-19 in save opportunities with a 1.88 ERA in 2026.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona expressed strong hope that free-agent reliever Emilio Pagán will re-sign with the team this offseason. Speaking on the Reds Hot Stove League radio show, Francona praised Pagán as a phenomenal teammate and closer, noting he has not given up on the right-hander returning despite Pagán declining his player option to test the free-agent market.

Pagán endured an inconsistent 2026 campaign that included early struggles and an injury in May, but he rebounded sharply upon his July return. Over the final three months of the season, Pagán posted a 1.88 ERA with 34 strikeouts across 28⅔ innings and converted all 19 of his save opportunities.

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Reds reunion with Emilio Pagán gets a major boost following Terry Francona’s remarks

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