{"id":954244,"date":"2026-11-01T10:48:11","date_gmt":"2026-11-01T10:48:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/954244\/"},"modified":"2026-11-01T10:48:11","modified_gmt":"2026-11-01T10:48:11","slug":"how-emilio-pagan-shakes-up-reliever-market-by-declining-2027-option","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/954244\/","title":{"rendered":"How Emilio Pagan Shakes Up Reliever Market by Declining 2027 Option"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"72\">A closer who has three seasons with at least 20 saves is officially on the market. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"77\">The Cincinnati Reds <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Reds\/status\/2116647857277239414?a=I3UkAq2alOIYgqCuQWM&amp;s=20\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">announced<\/a> Saturday that right-handed reliever Emilio Pagan declined his $10 million player option, becoming a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mlb\/fastball\/news\/jazz-chisholm-jr-brandon-lowe-and-luis-arraez-lead-loaded-second-base-market-justin3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">free agent<\/a> for the 2027 season. The 35-year-old spent the past three years with Cincinnati, posting a 3.44 ERA in 153 games and racking up 58 saves. After producing a 2.88 ERA and 32 saves for the Reds in 2025, the 6-foot-2 righty had a 3.38 ERA and 25 saves this season. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7c\">Many teams will be looking to sign reliable bullpen arms this offseason. Here are some of the other top relievers who will join Pagan in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mlb\/fastball\/news\/toughest-free-agent-decision-each-wild-card-loser-will-have-to-make-justin3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">free agency<\/a> ahead of the 2027 MLB season. <\/p>\n<p>David Bednar, Adrian Morejon headline this offseason&#8217;s relief pitcher market<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/01m6aga8sdvnesgsvd80.jpg\" alt=\"New York Yankees relief pitcher David Bednar\" title=\"New York Yankees relief pitcher David Bednar\" width=\"360\" height=\"203\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"7t\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Sep 22, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher David Bednar (53) follows through on a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7z\">With Pagan declining his 2027 player option, he could be an intriguing free agent for any franchise looking to add a late-inning reliever. But <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/mlb\/free-agents\/available\/_\/year\/2027\/position\/rp\/level\/mlb\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">several notable hurlers<\/a> will also be available this offseason, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mlb\/fastball\/news\/one-offseason-mistake-the-yankees-and-braves-cannot-afford-to-repeat-justin3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">New York Yankees<\/a> closer David Bednar. The 32-year-old posted a 2.47 ERA and recorded 35 saves for New York in 2026. While the right-hander could re-sign with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mlb\/fastball\/news\/cam-schlittler-joins-another-historic-list-with-latest-postseason-gem-justin3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Yankees<\/a>, he&#8217;ll likely be one of the most coveted closers this winter. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"84\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mlb\/fastball\/news\/3-potential-fits-for-michael-king-in-free-agency-after-declining-player-option-justin3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">San Diego Padres<\/a> left-hander <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mlb\/fastball\/news\/one-free-agent-decision-yankees-braves-padres-must-make-after-mlb-playoff-exits-justin3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Adrian Morejon<\/a> is another reliever who&#8217;s expected to be highly sought after this offseason. The 27-year-old formed a shutdown duo with Mason Miller in San Diego&#8217;s bullpen, producing a 2.83 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 86 innings this year. The southpaw has just eight saves in his big-league career, but he could be a formidable closer in the right situation. Either way, it wouldn&#8217;t be surprising if a major bidding war breaks out for Morejon over the next few months. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"89\">Veteran closer Raisel Iglesias is also an unrestricted free agent after recording 34 saves for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mlb\/fastball\/news\/3-more-decisions-for-braves-after-exercising-ronald-acuna-jr-ozzie-albies-options-justin3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Atlanta Braves<\/a> in 2026. The 36-year-old was a first-time All-Star this year and has saved at least 29 games in each of the last four seasons. If the right-hander doesn&#8217;t re-sign with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mlb\/fastball\/news\/one-of-braves-top-young-arms-was-a-dealbreaker-in-tarik-skubal-trade-talks-justin3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Atlanta<\/a>, he should be a top <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mlb\/fastball\/news\/biggest-offseason-needs-for-red-sox-astros-cubs-phillies-after-wild-card-losses-justin3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">offseason<\/a> target for any team that needs a closer. <\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-secondary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8e\">Other free agents with closing experience include Pete Fairbanks and Gregory Soto. Meanwhile, effective relievers like Jason Adam, JoJo Romero, Sean Newcomb, and Jonathan Loaisiga are also available this offseason. After watching the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/mlb\/fastball\/news\/one-offseason-question-for-brewers-and-rays-after-2026-world-series-justin3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Milwaukee Brewers<\/a>&#8216; bullpen dominate for most of the postseason, it&#8217;ll be interesting to see if other organizations try to replicate that recipe for success heading into 2027.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/>Add us as a preferred source on Google<a aria-label=\"Follow si.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=si.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" preventdefault:click=\"\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\" on:click=\"q-BuzMUIXO.js#s_lDqay9E5m5g[0]\" q:id=\"8k\">Follow<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A closer who has three seasons with at least 20 saves is officially on the market. The Cincinnati&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":954245,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[435],"tags":[49,48,462,82],"class_list":["post-954244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-mlb","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/954244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=954244"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/954244\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/954245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=954244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=954244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=954244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}