Watch Out Twins Fans: An Emilio Pagán Reunion Makes Sense for the Twins

[Cody Christie]

The Minnesota Twins need to make several improvements to their roster this offseason, and the bullpen should be near the top of that list. Minnesota has some intriguing options already in place, but the organization cannot afford to enter another season without enough dependable arms to handle the late innings.

One familiar name recently became available. Former Twins right-handed reliever Emilio Pagán declined his $10 million player option with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2027 season, according to Faccording to Francys Romero. The decision makes him a free agent after spending the last three seasons in Cincinnati.

At 35 years old, Pagán might not seem like an obvious long-term investment. He also missed nearly two months during the 2026 season with a hamstring injury. However, he put together an impressive second half and finished the year as one of Cincinnati's most dependable bullpen options.

The Twins should absolutely explore a reunion. Pagán has experience pitching in Minnesota, has demonstrated the ability to handle high-leverage situations, and could immediately become one of the team's most important relievers. There are financial and performance concerns, but this is exactly the type of opportunity Minnesota should consider as it looks to improve its bullpen.

Why Pagán Makes Sense for the Twins

Pagán's 2026 season was something of a tale of two halves. He struggled early, posting a 6.15 ERA before the All-Star break. A strained hamstring also kept him out of action from early May until July 3, limiting him to just 16 1/3 innings before the break.

However, the right-hander looked like a completely different pitcher after returning. Pagán recorded a 1.72 ERA over 26 1/3 second-half innings while striking out 29 batters. He converted all 18 of his save opportunities during that stretch, helping the Reds remain competitive in the National League Central.

His final numbers were impressive considering the injuries and early-season struggles. Pagán finished with a 3.38 ERA (3.42 xERA), 45 strikeouts, and 25 saves in 28 opportunities across 42 2/3 innings. He also posted a 25.9% strikeout rate and a 6.3% walk rate. Those last two numbers are particularly encouraging. Pagán continues to miss bats while limiting free passes, which is an important combination for a reliever entrusted with protecting narrow leads.

His 2025 season provides another reason to believe his recent success is legitimate. Pagán recorded a 2.88 ERA with 81 strikeouts and 32 saves across 68 2/3 innings. He established himself as Cincinnati's closer and was one of the more dependable pieces of the Reds' bullpen. The Twins need someone who can consistently handle the ninth inning. Pagán has demonstrated that ability over the last two seasons.

A Familiar Face in Minnesota

Twins fans already know what Pagán can bring to a bullpen. Minnesota acquired him from San Diego before the 2022 season in a deal that also brought Chris Paddack to the organization. The Padres received Taylor Rogers and Brent Rooker in the trade.

Pagán's first season with Minnesota was somewhat inconsistent. He posted a 4.43 ERA with 84 strikeouts across 63 innings. His strikeout stuff was evident (30.7 K%), but he struggled to consistently turn that ability into strong results. The following season was a different story. Pagán recorded a 2.99 ERA over 69 1/3 innings while striking out 65 batters (23.8 K%). He became a valuable member of the team's relief corps and helped Minnesota reach the postseason.

He also delivered when the stakes were highest. Pagán pitched two scoreless innings across two appearances during the 2023 postseason as the Twins finally advanced beyond the Wild Card round.

After that season, Pagán signed a two-year, $16 million contract with Cincinnati. His first year with the Reds was not particularly successful, as he posted a 4.50 ERA in 38 innings. However, he bounced back in 2025 and earned another contract from the organization. Following his excellent 2025 campaign, Cincinnati brought him back on a two-year, $20 million agreement. The contract included a $10 million player option for 2027, which Pagán has now declined.

There is something appealing about bringing back a player who already understands the organization and has previously experienced some level of success in Minnesota. More importantly, Pagán is coming off consecutive seasons in which he demonstrated that he can handle important bullpen responsibilities.

What Would Pagán Cost?

The financial commitment is where things could get interesting. Spotrac estimates Pagán's market value at approximately $25.7 million over two years. That would represent an annual commitment of roughly $12.8 million for a reliever who will turn 36 during the 2027 season. That is significant investment, especially for a Minnesota organization that has spent recent years operating with substantial payroll limitations.

However, the financial situation appears to be changing. Twins chairman Tom Pohlad has publicly committed to increasing payroll for 2027. At his season-ending news conference, Pohlad reiterated that the organization intends to meaningfully invest in the roster.

Minnesota also demonstrated a willingness to take on additional salary at the 2026 trade deadline, acquiring Jeff Hoffman and other established players to strengthen the roster. Pagán could be another opportunity to demonstrate that ownership is serious about improving the team's overall talent level.

A two-year contract worth approximately $24 million to $26 million would be a reasonable starting point for negotiations. The Twins should be comfortable making a competitive offer if they believe Pagán can continue performing at his recent level. However, they should avoid getting caught in a bidding war. There are other bullpen needs to address, and Minnesota cannot afford to spend its entire offseason budget on one reliever.

The Risks of a Reunion

There are legitimate reasons to hesitate before signing Pagán. The first concern is his age. Relief pitchers can experience significant performance fluctuations from one season to the next, and a multi-year contract for a pitcher approaching his late 30s carries some risk. Pagán also experienced a hamstring injury in 2026. Although he returned and pitched exceptionally well, the Twins would be committing multiple years to someone who recently lost nearly two months to an injury.

His underlying numbers also deserve attention. Pagán does not generate many ground balls. His 26.3% ground-ball rate in 2026 was well below the MLB average of 44.1%. Instead, he allows a considerable number of balls in the air, creating additional opportunities for opposing hitters to generate extra-base hits and home runs.

His average fastball velocity also dropped from 95.8 mph in 2025 to 94.9 mph in 2026. That is not necessarily a major concern by itself, but combined with his age, it is something the Twins should monitor. There is also a question about sustainability. Pagán's 2026 strikeout rate declined from 30% in 2025 to 25.9%. His ability to limit walks remained excellent, but Minnesota would be hoping that his second-half dominance is more representative of his future performance than his early-season struggles.

These concerns do not eliminate Pagán as a target. They simply reinforce why the Twins need to establish a financial limit before making an offer.

Should the Twins Bring Pagán Back?

Minnesota needs to improve its bullpen, and Pagán would be one of the more interesting reunion possibilities on the free-agent market. Imagine a late-inning group featuring Pagán, Jeff Hoffman, Andrew Morris, and Yoendrys Gómez. Hoffman could handle important setup situations, while Pagán provides an established closer. Morris and Gómez would give the team additional options as they continue developing their roles.

That would not solve every bullpen concern, but it would give manager Derek Shelton more flexibility when protecting leads. The Twins cannot expect to compete consistently if they continue relying on inexperienced relievers to handle every important situation. Adding established arms should be a priority, particularly after the bullpen struggled to provide consistent production throughout 2026.

Pagán has already shown he can succeed in Minnesota, and his recent performance suggests he still has plenty to offer. His age and ground-ball tendencies create some uncertainty, but the potential reward outweighs those concerns at the right price.

The Twins should make the call and see what it would take to bring him back. A two-year commitment is understandable, especially with ownership promising to increase payroll. Minnesota needs to start spending money on proven major-league talent. Reuniting with Pagán is certainly one place to start.

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Does a Pagan reunion make sense? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

Image courtesy of Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

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[farmerguychris]

Just no....sometimes its just best to leave the past in the past and leave it there....There are other options for the pen.

[Ricky Vaughn]

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[DJL44]

I wouldn’t go above $7M a season for Pagan. He’s already lost 2 MPH off his fastball. 

[MackMan]

I'm not opposed to a reunion with him. I was scrounging the FA list when I saw him name pop up. I think a good salary would be a $25million 2 year deal with a base salary of $12-15 million for year 1 and a $1.5 million buyout after year 1. That way if/when he struggles we can pay him and he is no longer our problem. With high risk, high reward relievers I think this is really the only way to do these type of contracts. 

[Twins GFP]

Let the relief pitcher, free-agent, roller coaster begin!

[Patzky]

24 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I wouldn’t go above $7M a season for Pagan. He’s already lost 2 MPH off his fastball. 

For that money, keep Minter.

[Cris E]

Pagan does not have complete seasons. He was bad for half of 2026, in 2025 he looked good in the aggregate but his April and Sept numbers were a third of his season with a 6.00+ ERA, and before that he was only average or below average or it was 2019. 

We lived through that and found he's not a rock of repeatable performance. I'd much rather have Hoffman's bad performance be an extra walk or two than Pagan serving up a double and two HR.  

[Linus]

If, a few years ago when he was with the Twins, you would have told me a 35 year old Pagan would be turning down a $10 million player option I would have called the local authorities. The thing that jumps out to me is how few innings he has pitched over the last few seasons. I would pass and look for a younger option. 

[HerbieFan]

14 minutes ago, Linus said:

If, a few years ago when he was with the Twins, you would have told me a 35 year old Pagan would be turning down a $10 million player option I would have called the local authorities. The thing that jumps out to me is how few innings he has pitched over the last few seasons. I would pass and look for a younger option. 

YEP

[mike8791]

You've got to be kidding!!

[ExtendGladdenFireAtteberry]

The article touches on Pagán’s health risk but that’s not the full story. Who’s thinking about my health? I might have to start taking blood pressure medication if this guy puts on a Twins uniform again. And I’ll definitely need some sort of protective layer on my tv to shield it from 12-ounce projectiles.

[Cory Engelhardt]

I'd be ok with it. I do think they need more 7th inning and later options.