Why Emilio Pagan Was the Best Free Agent Closer for the Tigers to Get

It has been reported that the Detroit Tigers are finalizing a deal to acquire Emilio Pagan, a 35-year-old closing pitcher with 10 years of major league experience, including the last four with the Cincinnati Reds. Pagan became Cincinnati's full-time closer over the last two seasons, combining for 57 saves during that span.

The Tigers tried to land a big-name free agent closer last year, bringing in Kenley Jansen, who proved to be a major swing and miss. Detroit's entire bullpen constantly found ways to lose games for the Tigers, and Jansen was a big part of those struggles.

Detroit led the league in losses when leading in the seventh inning or later, largely due to the incompetence the bullpen showed over and over again, led heavily by a declining Jansen.

Speculation began to grow about whom the Tigers would pursue in free agency to replace Jansen after Detroit declined his $12 million club option, allowing him to test the market once again.

Would Tigers GM Scott Harris go back to the well and pursue another big-name closer at the top of the market? Or would he look to find unproven arms and piece together the bullpen with the pitching chaos that comes with having A.J. Hinch as the team's manager?

That question was answered Tuesday afternoon when reports surfaced that the Tigers had landed one of the top closers available. Pagan had a $10 million player option to return to Cincinnati, but after two stellar seasons holding his own in the ninth inning, there was little surprise when he decided to test the market.

Detroit offered him $1.5 million more than he was set to make with Cincinnati, and he is now heading north to help shore up a team that seemed to be just one reliable closer away from being playoff-bound for a third straight year.

There were other options available, including Raisel Iglesias and Pete Fairbanks. However, Iglesias would have come with a higher price tag, while Fairbanks was coming off a down year in Miami. Pursuing Fairbanks would have felt like another dart throw, similar to the Kyle Finnegan gamble that also helped derail the Tigers' season.

Getting an older closer who has found success later in his career is always a gamble of its own. That is something that needs to remain at the forefront of everyone's mind when the season begins. The coaching staff cannot allow the closer situation to derail the season for a second straight year.

If Pagan proves himself early, the Tigers should continue to roll with him. However, if there are doubts early in the season, Detroit needs to act fast rather than allow the situation to spiral out of control.

For now, though, Pagan seems like the perfect fit for a team desperate for an answer.

Pagan's ERA has finished at 3.38 or better in three of the last four years, with two of those seasons ending below 3.00. Two years ago, Pagan struck out 81 batters while posting a 2.88 ERA and finishing with 32 saves.

His numbers took a bit of a step back last season, as he posted a 3.38 ERA, struck out 45 batters and recorded 27 saves. Still, the swing-and-miss stuff remains, and the Tigers appear to have found their next answer for the toughest inning in baseball.

Pagan might not be the biggest name available, but he could be exactly what Detroit needed. Rather than overspend on another established closer, the Tigers landed a proven ninth-inning option at a reasonable price. If Pagan can carry his recent success into Detroit, he could be the missing piece in a bullpen that desperately needs stability.