Re-signing of closer Emilio Pagán to a two-year, $20 million deal was crucial to the Cincinnati Reds' success this offseason. The Reds now have two high-leverage relievers (Pagán and Tony Santillan) to deploy in the eighth and ninth innings heading into the 2026 season.
But for all the success Pagán and Santillan found in 2025, neither is considered to be an All-Star-caliber option. The Reds don't have that shut-down closer at the backend of the bullpen, but it would certainly help the team's cause in 2026.
The trade market is rife with relief pitchers, and the Reds have the pitching depth and an abundance of prospects to complete a blockbuster trade.