Emilio Pagán signs 1-year, $11 million contract with Tigers

Emilio Pagán agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal with the Detroit Tigers, according to sources reported by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. The Tigers have not yet confirmed the report.

Pagán had mixed results during his first five Major League seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays, and San Diego Padres. In April 2022, he was traded from San Diego to the Minnesota Twins. His first year with the Twins was average, as he pitched to a 4.43 ERA over 59 bullpen appearances.

However, Pagán improved significantly in 2023, posting a 2.99 ERA (147 ERA+) over 69 1/3 innings, assisting the Twins in reaching the postseason. Subsequently, the Cincinnati Reds signed the veteran right-hander to a one-year contract, but he struggled that season, registering a 4.50 ERA across 38 appearances.

Despite this setback, Pagán bounced back with a combined 3.07 ERA over 111 1/3 innings from 2025-26. He faced challenges last season, limiting his play to 45 appearances due to a hamstring strain that kept him out for almost two months.

In the last two years, Pagán held opposing batters to a .185 batting average. His .181 expected batting average against in 2025 ranked sixth among all pitchers, following notable players like Josh Hader and Edwin Díaz. Furthermore, Pagán's expected weighted on-base average against (.266) and expected ERA (2.89) placed him in the top nine percent of qualified pitchers.

His pitching arsenal primarily relies on a four-seam fastball, averaging 94.9 mph during the 2026 season. He also incorporates a cutter and a splitter; while both the fastball and cutter performed well, his split-finger pitch showed a negative value, contrasting with a positive run value the previous season.

With a decade of Major League experience and a proven effective arsenal, particularly over the last couple of years, Pagán is expected to be a valuable addition to the Tigers' bullpen as he enters his 36th year.