CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pagán declined a $10-million player option for 2027 on Saturday, deciding to become a free agent.
Cincinnati also declined a $16-million mutual option on third baseman/designated hitter Eugenio Suárez and an $8-million mutual option on right-hander Pierce Johnson, who gets a $1-million buyout. They also can become free agents.
Pagán was 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 25 saves in 28 chances this year, when he had a $10-million salary. He didn't pitch for the Reds between May 5 and July 3 because of a strained left hamstring. The 35-year-old right-hander has 90 saves in 10 major-league seasons, the last three with the Reds.
Suárez, 35, batted .212 with 26 homers and 74 RBIs in 125 games for the Reds under a one-year contract that guaranteed $15 million. He was sidelined between April 22 and May 23 because of a strained left oblique. Suárez helped Venezuela win the World Baseball Classic, hitting a tiebreaking RBI double in a 3-2 win over the United States in the final.
Johnson, 35, was 2-1 with a 4.65 ERA and one save in 56 relief appearances. Johnson was sidelined between May 26 and June 23 by right elbow inflammation. He had a $5.5-million base salary as part of a deal guaranteeing $6.5 million and earned $300,000 in performance bonuses for games pitched.
