A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 164

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good – Episode 164

The Baseball Team’s New Recruit Is Too Good 164

Chapter 43: Trade, Season No. 1 (2)

About four hours later.

The thought that popped into Ji-seop’s head was this:

‘They say a dog in a restaurant for three years can boil ramen… Hehe, I’m exactly that case.’ [This is a Korean saying that means someone can become skilled at a task through repetition and experience.]

Trade proposals come in more often than expected.

At least one or two a week, and up to five or six a day when there are many.

Of course, only a small fraction of these are recognized as valid and lead to full-fledged negotiation tables.

‘That doesn’t mean I can do my job carelessly.’

As front office staff, they had no choice but to pore over every trade proposal from other teams.

It had been five months since Ji-seop, as a special assistant to the general manager, had been doing that work almost every week with the front office staff.

Ji-seop had reached the point where he could prepare for a trade on his own.

‘I don’t know if I should call this good work ethic or a born slave mentality…’

Even as he smacked his lips and reached for an energy drink, Ji-seop was steadily tackling the tasks at hand.

First, he extracted the last three years of game data for Ma Gang-sik, the player potentially being traded, and separately compiled his injury history, pitch data, and scouting reports.

Then, he opened the UB Guardians’ depth chart and checked which positions they might be interested in filling.

Finally, he opened the database file for trade reviews and compiled a list of Cannons players who met the conditions–

“Heh, this is something…”

It was perhaps natural that a satisfied smile appeared on General Manager Seo Chang-gi’s face.

“Good job, Special Assistant Kim. There’s nothing for me to add.”

That was General Manager Seo’s comment.

“Hey, if I had known this would happen, I would have asked the other team leaders to come too. It’s a shame there’s no one to brag to about how well our Special Assistant Kim did.”

“You flatter me.”

As Ji-seop bowed slightly, General Manager Seo continued with a pleased expression.

“If this goes well, I’ll let you rest for three or four days. So let’s put in a little more effort.”

“Thank you, General Manager.”

“Okay, then shall we get going? If we leave now, we should be able to make it to the appointment on time… Ah, that’s right!”

It was at this moment that General Manager Seo opened his desk drawer as if he had remembered something.

After rummaging through the drawer for a while, he took out a white baseball and suddenly held it out to Ji-seop.

“Here, keep this.”

“Yes? Why a baseball all of a sudden…”

Ji-seop tilted his head and took the baseball that General Manager Seo handed him.

The next moment, Ji-seop was able to realize anew that General Manager Seo was looking out for him.

“Didn’t your father used to be a fan of the UB Guardians? I think I heard that he really liked General Manager Park Min-wook during his active days?”

‘Then you should get an autograph.’

General Manager Seo gave a subtle expression.

“General Manager Park Min-wook… He’s usually not one to give autographs to fans.”

* * *

UB Guardians’ General Manager Park Min-wook.

That was the name of the person Ji-seop and General Manager Seo Chang-gi would be dealing with that day.

He was a franchise star of the UB Guardians and a legend who achieved the rare ‘100 wins-100 saves’ record in Korean professional baseball, as well as in the United States and Japan. [This refers to achieving 100 wins as a pitcher and 100 saves as a relief pitcher, a difficult feat.]

Despite being injured repeatedly due to overwork, he overcame it and returned to throw the ball again, which brought tears of emotion to Ji-seop’s father in his youth.

Thanks to this, Ji-seop had often heard his name since he was a child, and he was a little excited to meet him in person this time—but the excitement of meeting the legend, unfortunately, did not last long.

Around 2 p.m. that day, the following words popped out of General Manager Park Min-wook’s mouth, whom they met at a hotel in Gangnam, Seoul.

“Ah, Ma Gang-sik? I’m sorry, but a trade would be difficult.”

It was a statement that came before General Manager Seo Chang-gi even mentioned specific exchange conditions.

“That matter has already been internally discussed. It would be pointless to discuss it again now.”

“Internally discussed means…”

“Yes, it means we will do as Ma Gang-sik wants. Voluntary termination.”

Voluntary termination. Or voluntary retirement.

Simply put, it meant that the player voluntarily quit his active career.

Once approved, he cannot play as a player within the current year, and even after that, he cannot join another team without the consent of his original team.

In other words, Ma Gang-sik had declared his complete retirement from active duty, and the club had accepted it.

A slight embarrassment could not help but appear on General Manager Seo Chang-gi’s face.

“General Manager Park, did you hear me correctly?”

General Manager Seo asked.

“There are reporters who have caught wind of this, you know? By Wednesday, what happened between Coach Choi and Ma Gang-sik… will be known to the public. Is that a decision you made with that in mind?”

“Yes, of course.”

Just as the waiter came with the coffee, General Manager Park waited for him to move away before opening his mouth again.

“I know that Sports Hanseong has covered it, and I know that it will be noisy for a while when the article comes out. But even considering all that… I decided it would be better to let Ma Gang-sik go.”

“No, why?”

When General Manager Seo asked almost demandingly, the legendary pitcher of yesteryear raised his thick eyebrows and replied.

“Because we needed to set an example.”

“An example?”

“The coach’s instructions are absolute. There can be no objections or disagreements. At least within the UB Guardians.”

‘This is my principle.’

General Manager Park Min-wook said firmly.

“The coach is the one who takes responsibility. If the team’s performance is not good, he must immediately step down and resign. But what about the players? Have there ever been key players who were kicked out because the team’s performance was not good?”

“…”

“So I think it’s right to concentrate all authority on the person who takes responsibility. The guys who don’t take responsibility just have to follow.”

General Manager Park Min-wook picked up his coffee cup.

“I’ve been emphasizing this since I took office as general manager… but there are still players who don’t understand. So what can I do? I have to set an example. To show what happens if you don’t follow the coach.”

“No, I know what you mean, but…”

General Manager Seo sighed briefly and looked at General Manager Park.

“Isn’t it a bit… too much that the target is Ma Gang-sik?”

“Too much?”

“No, isn’t it? He’s been dedicated to the team for over 10 years.”

Although he was not a member of the Cannons, General Manager Seo Chang-gi seemed to feel sorry for Ma Gang-sik.

“From starter to bullpen, and back from bullpen to starter… This is not an easy task, is it? The physical burden is great, and the mental burden is even greater.”

“…”

“If you think about it, the fact that Ma Gang-sik was often injured would have had a significant impact, so is it okay to kick out such a player like this?”

“General Manager Seo Chang-gi.”

General Manager Park Min-wook called out to General Manager Seo.

“As you said, it’s never easy, and it’s easy to get injured… Ma Gang-sik has only done it for 11 years, but I’ve been doing that for exactly 23 years.”

“23 years… That’s right.”

“But unlike Ma Gang-sik, I have never rebelled against the coach. Why?”

It was at this moment that General Manager Park’s face hardened.

“Because that’s a player’s duty.”

* * *

It was about 30 minutes later that Ji-seop and General Manager Seo Chang-gi returned to the car parked in the hotel basement.

The negotiation that day proceeded a little differently than expected.

The UB Guardians’ general manager came out much stronger than expected.

“Let’s go.”

The first words General Manager Seo, who was sitting in the back seat, said when Ji-seop started the car were as follows.

“General Manager Park Min-wook… He’s become more thorough than before. He came well-prepared.”

“Prepared… did you say?”

“Prepared. He came out prepared.”

General Manager Seo’s face was full of bitter smiles.

“After receiving the report that reporter Hwang Young-joo had covered it, wouldn’t he have set up his own countermeasures? How to respond when a trade proposal comes from another team.”

‘We can’t trade.

We’ve already made a decision.’

General Manager Seo did not seem to believe General Manager Park Min-wook’s firm declaration.

“I don’t think it will go as far as voluntary termination. Ma Gang-sik is a useful guy, so can we just throw him away? We’ll somehow drive him to accept a trade.”

That was General Manager Seo’s analysis.

“However, because of Hwang’s article, we won’t do a losing business. Even if the article is released and there’s a big fuss, we’ll sell Ma Gang-sik for the right price… That’s roughly how it reads.”

“General Manager, then…”

When Ji-seop asked as he turned the steering wheel, General Manager Seo shrugged.

“Shouldn’t we make a concession? It seems like it should be around a 3rd round pick.”

The original plan was to exchange him for a second-team catcher of a similar age to Ma Gang-sik.

However, now that they had grasped the other party’s intentions, it seemed that a slightly better offer was needed.

“From our point of view, it’s best to finish things before Hwang’s article comes out.”

That was General Manager Seo’s comment.

“Once the article is released, the teams aiming for Ma Gang-sik will rush in like a swarm of bees. In that case, a 3rd round pick won’t be enough.”

It wasn’t that General Manager Seo wasn’t disappointed.

General managers basically have a merchant mindset, and the desire to give a little and receive a lot is natural.

However, perhaps because he had started his career in the front office from the beginning, General Manager Seo was always a person who made careful choices.

‘I can’t say it’s a grand slam, but I should see this as a two-RBI double in a timely manner.’ [In baseball, this means a good, but not spectacular, success.]

The fact that they were able to acquire a versatile pitcher who could be used in all positions without competition from other teams.

Just as he was about to put aside his regrets for a moment and think about the timing of contacting General Manager Park Min-wook again.

“General Manager.”

Ji-seop, who had been driving silently, called out to General Manager Seo Chang-gi.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know how it will sound to you if I say this, but…”

Ji-seop hesitated slightly, then opened his mouth with a determined expression, as if he had made up his mind.

“Didn’t you say that you remembered the trade of Chun Jin-woo last season? And that you have expectations for my insight?”

“Hmm, I did. But why?”

“Then, General Manager, wouldn’t you follow my opinion this time, just for once?”

“Your opinion?”

Interestingly, a bit of interest was rising in General Manager Seo’s eyes at this time.

“What’s your opinion?”

“General Manager Park Min-wook.”

Ji-seop continued.

“Don’t make any additional offers to General Manager Park, and try to hold out until the end. Until they come looking for us first.”

“Until they come looking for us?”

General Manager Seo’s eyes widened.

“Is that possible?”

“It’s possible.”

Ji-seop replied.

“General Manager Park Min-wook, on the surface, seems to be showing an attitude that he can never tolerate Ma Gang-sik’s actions…”

Ji-seop looked at General Manager Seo through the rearview mirror.

“But in fact, he was more concerned about Ma Gang-sik than anyone else.”