The Tigers are in agreement with free agent closer Emilio Pagán, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post. It’s a one-year deal in the $11MM range, he adds.
It’s this year’s first significant move on the free agent market. Pagán’s market moved quickly, as he finds a new landing spot within two weeks of declining a $10MM player option with Cincinnati. Pagán banks an extra million dollars and presumably will enter the season as the favorite to work as A.J. Hinch’s primary closer.
The agreement comes together within hours of Detroit president of baseball operations Scott Harris telling reporters he was seeking a right-handed leverage reliever who could improve the team’s strikeout ability (links via Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic and Jason Beck of MLB.com). Pagán fanned 25.9% of opponents this year and has a 28% strikeout rate for his career, which will make him one of the team’s better swing-and-miss arms.
Detroit’s bullpen was 19th in strikeout rate and 21st in whiffs this past season. They were near the bottom of the league in that regard in 2025 as well. It caught up to them this year, as the Tigers led the American League with 31 blown saves despite finishing middle of the pack in earned run average. Their high-leverage arms too frequently stumbled.
Kenley Jansen had an up-and-down year in the closer’s role and was bought out at season’s end. Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan had very poor seasons and both finished the year on the injured list. Vest underwent surgeries on both a stress reaction in his elbow and on his hip. Harris provided an update today, saying that Vest is throwing and expected to be ready for the start of next season. Finnegan missed the final couple weeks with a left groin strain.
Vest is eligible for arbitration once more. He’ll probably be back, as it seems likely the Tigers will tender him a contract (projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz around $4.4MM) so long as he’s on track for the start of the season. Finnegan is signed for $10.25MM, including an option buyout, so the Tigers would have a tough time moving on from him unless there’s another underwater contract swap.
Detroit is better positioned from the left side. Drew Sommers had a dominant strikeout and walk profile over 43 appearances this year. Tyler Holton has reliably churned out good results and eaten a ton of innings despite pedestrian velocity.
More to come.
Hence then, the article about tigers to sign emilio pagan was published today ( ) and is available on MLBtraderumors ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Tigers To Sign Emilio Pagán )
Also on site :
- ‘Boy Meets World’ Star Rider Strong Reveals He Got ‘Completely Screwed’ During The Show’s Final Season
- In 2002, Avril Lavigne’s ‘Sk8er Boi’ Became a Pop-Punk Anthem—24 Years Later, McDonald’s Germany Is Celebrating the Hit With a Collectible Mini Boombox
- Major ‘NCIS’ Reunion! 3 Fan-Favorite Icons Return to Help Gibbs Solve His Biggest Unsolved Mystery on ‘NCIS: Origins’