Emilio Pagán is a free agent after declining his option with the Reds. He'd give the Blue Jays another late-inning weapon, if he wants that kind of role.

He passed on a $10 million option for 2027. Francys Romero reported he has a strong chance at a multi-year deal.

His second half explains the confidence. He went 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA and 18 saves after the break.

Hitters managed just a .189 average against him over that stretch. That followed a hamstring injury that wrecked his first half.

Over the past two seasons in Cincinnati, he's saved 57 games in 115 appearances. He's 35 but pitching the best baseball of his career.

So why isn't this an easy call for Toronto? The ninth inning is taken.

Louis Varland's grip on the ninth complicates an Emilio Pagán fit

Louis Varland saved 35 games and is an AL Reliever of the Year finalist. Tyler Rogers, with 23 career saves, is next in line.

Pagán ranks tied for eighth in saves over the past two years. Some team will likely hand him a closer job.

The price is appealing. MLB Trade Rumors projects a two-year, $20 million deal.

There's another concern. Pagán is an extreme flyball pitcher, which can be dangerous in the AL East.

Toronto should pass unless he's open to setup work. The bullpen already returns its five most-used arms, and paying a closer to pitch the seventh is a luxury when the lineup still needs power.

Adding him to this bullpen is like hiring a second head chef for a small kitchen. Talented, but someone ends up chopping onions.

The Brewers just won a title riding a three-headed bullpen of Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill. Depth matters in October.

If Pagán wants a contender and a setup role, Ross Atkins should listen. If he wants the ninth, he'll find it somewhere else.