Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 293

293. Toward the Stage of Dreams (4)

As I drove, Park Sung-ju was lost in thought, silently gazing out the window.

“Sung-ju, we’re almost there.”

Park Sung-ju turned to me and slowly said, “Representative, do you think I might regret this decision later?”

“Do you think you might?”

“Of course, playing baseball with the Buffaloes fans is really enjoyable. But the timing for challenging the Major League is very specific.”

“It’s best to try when your physical condition is at its peak.”

“After signing this contract, I’ll practically have no chance to challenge the Major League. What if I suddenly want to try again next year?”

“Sung-ju, don’t worry. I’m here for you, so what’s the problem?”

I reached out my right hand and placed it on Park Sung-ju’s shoulder, saying,

“Of course, I completely trust you, senior… But won’t it be impossible then?”

“If you ever want to try again, you can request a posting [a system where a player’s team allows them to negotiate with foreign teams]. Even after signing a free agent (FA) contract, you can apply for posting as long as you get the team’s permission. The scope of the contract might be narrower than FA, but there have been quite a few players who entered the Major League through posting.”

“Do you think the team would allow that after signing me as a FA?” Park Sung-ju asked, tilting his head.

“Sung-ju, that’s what I’m here for. If you want it, I’ll do whatever it takes to get permission, so don’t worry.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

When I nodded confidently, a faint smile finally appeared on Park Sung-ju’s face.

“Then I just need to focus on playing baseball hard?”

“Of course. Don’t worry about anything else and just enjoy baseball.”

“Hoo… I understand.”

Park Sung-ju took a deep breath and nodded.

I patted Park Sung-ju’s shoulder.

A little later, we finally arrived at the Buffaloes’ home stadium.

Park Sung-ju and I headed straight to the general manager’s office, where Choi Min-sung, the Buffaloes’ general manager, was waiting.

Even though it was almost dawn, Choi Min-sung had arrived first and was waiting.

“General Manager, I’m sorry for the late hour.”

“Don’t mention it. We need to sign the contract quickly before another team snatches him up,” Choi Min-sung replied with a broad smile.

“Shall we proceed right away then?”

“Please do. Just wait a moment, and I’ll bring the contract.” Choi Min-sung pointed to a place to sit.

Park Sung-ju and I sat there and waited for a moment.

Soon, Choi Min-sung brought two copies of the contract that he had printed in advance.

The three of us read the contract line by line, checking the contents.

We carefully checked the option regarding the contract period that Choi Min-sung had requested last.

After confirming that it was the same as what we had discussed in advance, Park Sung-ju and Choi Min-sung picked up their pens and signed the contracts in front of them.

Then, they exchanged contracts and filled in the last remaining blanks.

Finally, the contract between Park Sung-ju and the Buffaloes was completed.

“Congratulations on the contract,” I said, clapping my hands as the two finished signing.

“Sung-ju, let’s do our best to win the championship this season,” Choi Min-sung said, shaking hands with Park Sung-ju.

“Of course, we have to. I’ll even aim for 50 home runs this time.”

Choi Min-sung’s lips curled up at Park Sung-ju’s confident words.

“Shall we take a picture?”

Since there were no other staff members present due to the late hour, I stepped up as the photographer.

Park Sung-ju and Choi Min-sung held hands with bright smiles in front of the Buffaloes emblem.

As soon as the entire contract process was completed, the agency and the Buffaloes simultaneously distributed press releases, including official photos.

Even though it was early dawn, I could see articles being uploaded every moment.

└Wow!!! This is crazy. A maximum of 8 years contract ㄷㄷㄷ

└Does that mean the 2-year option is automatically triggered if certain records are achieved?

└The Buffaloes also put in a safety net to prevent him from becoming a ‘money-eater’ [a player who underperforms despite a high salary]. I don’t think it will be too strict.

└Does this contract mean he gave up on challenging the Major League?

└The team can allow him to try posting in the middle, but it’s unlikely since he signed a long-term contract.

└That’s right, Sung-ju. It’s good to play baseball in Korea with fans cheering for you instead of suffering in the US.

└I wonder if there’s a chance Oh Seok-hoon will stay too. The Jaguars lost Watson and Scott, so if Oh Seok-hoon stays, the Buffaloes can definitely win next year.

└Since Park Sung-ju stayed, it’s not impossible.

└Still, one person should go to the Major League. It would be great if the top player in Korea does well in the US.

└That’s true, but it would be a waste of his career if he struggles or only plays in the minor league before returning. Now is the time to run his best prime.

└Right. If he can receive this much treatment in Korea even if he can’t go to the Major League, isn’t it good enough?

└According to rumors, he received offers from several teams for a 40-man Major League contract, but they are still negotiating until the end due to issues including the 25-man roster and minor league veto rights.

└His desired conditions are quite demanding. Will there be a team that accepts those conditions?

└It’s true that the possibility is low, but Oh Seok-hoon is worth demanding that much. He showed that he can be competitive enough in the last tournament.

└If no team makes that offer and the deal falls through, will he stay with the Buffaloes?

└But even if Oh Seok-hoon stays, we can’t be sure that he will sign with the Buffaloes. Almost every team is probably eyeing him.

└They already pulled out all the stops to get Park Sung-ju, so if they get Oh Seok-hoon at that price, the Buffaloes won’t be able to sign players for a while, lol [laughing out loud].

└If they can get Oh Seok-hoon, they have to take that risk. If he transfers to another team, the Buffaloes stadium will explode.

* * *

Following Donald Watson and Michael Scott, even Park Sung-ju.

One by one, they found the teams they wanted.

Now, only Oh Seok-hoon was left.

The Major League transfer market was also heading towards its end.

However, no Major League team had yet offered Oh Seok-hoon a 25-man roster spot and minor league veto rights.

If he signs a contract before spring training starts, there won’t be any problems preparing for the season, but it would be better to complete the contract as quickly as possible to prepare properly.

Moreover, it would be even more so if he were to challenge a new stage rather than moving teams in the domestic league.

It was no longer possible to just wait while negotiating.

I sat down with Oh Seok-hoon and started talking.

“Senior, is there anything new?” Oh Seok-hoon asked me with a face that was half expectation and half worry.

“Unfortunately, not yet with the conditions you want.”

“Haa…” When I carefully shook my head, Oh Seok-hoon lowered his head.

“Seok-hoon. It’s not over yet, so don’t be too disappointed.”

“Shouldn’t we assume it’s not going to happen at this point? I don’t think anything will change even if we wait any longer.” Oh Seok-hoon’s shoulders were slumped.

“Then shall we completely change our approach?”

“How?” Oh Seok-hoon tilted his head and asked.

I told Oh Seok-hoon about the strategy I had in mind.

Oh Seok-hoon listened to me, pondered for a moment, and then nodded.

When it was time for the appointment with Kim Sang-wook of Sky Corporation, I sat down with Oh Seok-hoon in front of the camera.

Our faces and Kim Sang-wook’s face could be seen on the screen at the same time.

After quickly exchanging simple greetings, we got straight to the point.

-Representative, have you checked the data I sent you last?

“Yes, I have read all the contents sent by the three teams.”

-I think this is the best we can do at this point. What do you think, Representative?

“I’ve just talked to Oh Seok-hoon, and he said it would be difficult to accept unless he can be guaranteed a spot in the Major League.”

-Representative, this is a great offer. If you ask for more here, you may have to give up on going to the US altogether, Kim Sang-wook said with a faint sigh.

“Just a moment. I’ll talk to Oh Seok-hoon one last time.”

I turned off the screen for a moment and looked at Oh Seok-hoon.

“Seok-hoon, I think we should throw out the last thing we talked about. Is that okay?”

“Yes. We have to.”

“If this offer is not accepted, this negotiation itself may be terminated. It means you may have to stay in Korea.”

Oh Seok-hoon was lost in thought for a moment.

Then he carefully opened his mouth. “If it doesn’t work out, I can just stay in Korea. There’s nothing bad about playing baseball in Korea.”

“Okay. Then I’ll talk to him.”

“Hoo… Yes.”

Oh Seok-hoon took a deep breath after much deliberation and nodded.

I reconnected the screen with Kim Sang-wook.

-Did you finish the conversation well?

“Yes, we must have this condition. Please propose it again.”

-Hoo… Kim Sang-wook sighed deeply and continued the conversation.

-If it falls through here, we may not be able to negotiate any further.”

“Yes, we are fully prepared for that. And now, we need to set one condition.”

-A condition? Kim Sang-wook tilted his head and asked.

“If you don’t give us a final answer within the next 24 hours, we won’t be able to wait any longer.”

-What do you mean you can’t wait?

“Spring training is not far away, and we can’t just be without a team. If we can’t sign with an American team, we’ll have to pursue a contract with a domestic team.”

-A domestic team…? Have you talked about it enough?

“Of course. The player himself is firm.”

-Hmm… I understand. Since you said that, I’ll talk to them, but the possibility is not very high.”

“Please do it anyway.”

-Then I’ll contact you again while proceeding.”

The online meeting ended like that.

“Will it work out?” Oh Seok-hoon asked with a worried expression.

“It’ll be fine. Don’t worry,” I said, smiling at Oh Seok-hoon.

Now we have done everything we can.

All that’s left is to wait for the next 24 hours.