The short version
- El Nuevo Día reports that Puerto Rican reliever Emilio Pagán agreed to a one-year $11 million contract with the Detroit Tigers after declining a $10 million option for 2027 with the Reds
- According to both outlets Pagán posted a 5-1 record with a 3.38 ERA and 25 saves in 28 chances in 2026 and had a 1.88 ERA with 19 straight saves after returning from a left hamstring injury
- El Vocero states the 35-year-old has 10 MLB seasons and 90 career saves and will be Detroit's seventh team after playing for Seattle Oakland Tampa Bay San Diego Minnesota and Cincinnati
- The sources agree the deal first reported by Jon Heyman is subject to a physical and that Pagán has played for six previous MLB teams
Contract details
Puerto Rican relief pitcher Emilio Pagán has reached an agreement with the Detroit Tigers for one season and $11 million, according to reports published on Wednesday. El Nuevo Día reported that the deal, first reported by journalist Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network, is subject to Pagán passing a physical.
El Vocero reported](https://www.elvocero.com/deportes/emilio-pag-n-acuerda-con-los-tigres-de-detroit-por-un-a-o-y-cerca/article_60cb23f9-39f5-44e0-a95e-036086030507.html) that the pact is for around $11 million and represents a $1 million increase over the $10 million player option Pagán declined with the Cincinnati Reds for 2027. The Tigers have not yet announced the signing.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Tigers signing top reliever Emilio Pagán. About $11M, 1 year , via sources
The source's own post, quoted as published. Not verified by PuertoRico.com. View post
Recent performance
Pagán, 35, spent the last three seasons with Cincinnati. In 2026 he went 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 45 appearances, recording 25 saves in 28 opportunities and striking out 45 batters in 42 2/3 innings, El Vocero reported.
He missed nearly two months with a left hamstring strain but returned on July 1 and converted all 19 subsequent save chances with a 1.88 ERA over his final 30 appearances, both outlets said. In 2025 he set a career high with 32 saves and a 2.88 ERA; the two seasons produced 57 total saves with the Reds.
Tigers' bullpen needs
Detroit declined a $12 million option on veteran closer Kenley Jansen, who recorded 22 saves in 2026, creating an opening that Pagán is expected to help fill, El Nuevo Día reported.
Pagán has pitched for 10 seasons in the majors and previously played for the Mariners, Athletics, Rays, Padres, Twins and Reds. If the deal is finalized he would join fellow Puerto Rico representative Javier Báez on the Tigers roster, El Vocero reported.
Where the sources differ
Both El Nuevo Día and El Vocero report that Emilio Pagán agreed to a one-year contract worth about $11 million with the Detroit Tigers after declining a $10 million option with the Reds, that the deal was first reported by Jon Heyman and remains subject to a physical, and that he posted a 5-1 record, 3.38 ERA and 25 saves in 2026. El Nuevo Día says the Tigers declined a $12 million option on Kenley Jansen while El Vocero says it was for 2027. The outlets agree on Pagán's strong second half after a hamstring injury and his prior teams; El Vocero explicitly states Detroit would be his seventh team.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state when the physical is scheduled, whether Pagán is expected to be the primary closer, the exact value beyond 'about' or '$11 million,' or any additional contract incentives or guarantees. They also do not indicate how long the Tigers had been pursuing him or whether other teams made competitive offers.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Emilio Pagán acuerda contrato de $11 millones con los Tigers de Detroit
- Reporting Emilio Pagán acuerda con los Tigres de Detroit por un año y cerca de $11 millones
How we checked this
El Nuevo Día and El Vocero both based their coverage on reports from Jon Heyman. Details of Pagán's 2026 second-half performance and career path rest on both outlets while the exact wording of the Tigers' decision on Kenley Jansen rests on a single source in each report.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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