The Tigers are reportedly in agreement with reliever Emilio Pagán on a one-year, $11 million contract, sources told MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. The club has not confirmed the report.
Following mixed results over his first five Major League seasons, which were spent with the Mariners, A’s, Rays and Padres, Pagán was traded from San Diego to Minnesota in April 2022. His first season with the Twins was mediocre -- he pitched to a 4.43 ERA over 59 appearances out of the bullpen. But since then, he’s been one of the better relievers in baseball.
In 2023, Pagán posted a 2.99 ERA (147 ERA+) over 69 1/3 innings for Minnesota to help the Twins reach the postseason. That offseason, the Reds signed the veteran right-hander to a one-year deal and he regressed to a 4.50 ERA in 38 appearances in his first season with Cincinnati.
But following that hiccup, Pagán combined for a 3.07 ERA over 111 1/3 frames from 2025-26 -- though he was limited to 45 appearances last season due to a hamstring strain that sidelined him for nearly two months.
Over the past two seasons, Pagán has limited opposing batters to a .185 batting average against him. His .181 expected batting average against in 2025 ranked sixth in baseball, behind only luminaries Josh Hader, Mason Miller, Edwin Díaz, Brandon Woodruff and Aroldis Chapman. Pagán’s expected weighted on-base average against (.266) ranked in the top nine percent of qualified pitchers, as did his expected ERA (2.89).
Relying primarily on his four-seam fastball, which averaged 94.9 mph in 2026, Pagán also mixes in a cutter and a splitter. Both the fastball and cutter were above average last season, but the split-finger didn’t perform well -- it produced a -4 run value after the run value for the pitch was +6 in 2025.
With a decade of Major League experience, as well as an arsenal that has proven effective for years -- particularly the last couple -- Pagán should be an asset to the Tigers' bullpen as he enters his age-36 campaign.