The Cincinnati Reds have plenty of questions to answer this offseason, and one of the biggest is who will be closing games in 2027.

Emilio Pagan recently declined his $10 million player option to become a free agent. However, Reds manager Terry Francona isn't ready to give up on the possibility of bringing him back.

During Thursday's appearance on Reds Hot Stove, Francona made it clear just how much he wants Pagan back in Cincinnati.

“I texted him last night. He was at dinner. I said, ‘Do I need to come over there and kick your ass?’ I love the guy," Francona told Jim Day on the Reds Hot Stove . "He’s such a phenomenal teammate. He bailed us out. When we made him the closer, it allows you to work from back to front when you know there is an end in sight. I am not giving up on him coming back because he has a right to test the market.…