A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 341

Baseball Team Newbie Is Too Good – Episode 341

Baseball Team Newbie Is Too Good 341

80 Planting Seeds (5)

Jiseop’s prediction was correct.

The person who came to the Future Strategy Planning Department’s office that day was Ryan Choi.

He was an agent from Boras Corporation, specializing in independent league players.

“Oh, Kim! You’re here?”

The fact that a box of cookies, seemingly bought by Ryan, was placed in the middle of the office was within expectations.

“Turns out, this friend is an alumnus from our Fort Myers graduate school! Haha, to meet an alumnus here!”

It was also predictable that John Llama’s mood was greatly improved after receiving the fancy cookies.

“Hello, Kim.”

However, there was one thing that slightly deviated from Jiseop’s expectations at this moment.

It was Ryan Choi’s appearance, offering a handshake to Jiseop with a faint smile.

Even though it had only been a few days since they last met, his face was so haggard that it was almost unrecognizable.

‘This guy… what’s wrong with him?’

The hair that had been neatly styled with pomade was disheveled.

The sharp, shining eyes had also changed to a dull, lifeless gaze, like rotten pollack eyes.

And above all, the right hand he extended to Jiseop was trembling faintly.

“Ryan, are you alright?”

Jiseop couldn’t help but ask.

“You don’t look well at all. Your eyes are bloodshot…”

“No, I’m fine. I’m completely fine, more than fine!”

It was a completely unreliable answer, but Jiseop didn’t add anything more to it.

He would soon find out the reason why he appeared at Tropicana Field in such a state.

“Actually… after hearing Kim’s advice, I reviewed the list of players I’m in charge of from the beginning.”

“From the beginning?”

When Jiseop raised his eyebrows, Ryan nodded quietly.

“After hearing Kim’s story, I realized I had forgotten something important. We need to consider the client’s needs, make offers that the opposing team can’t refuse… That’s what our boss always says, but I had completely forgotten it.”

Ahem.

After clearing his throat slightly, he straightened his back and looked at Jiseop.

“Based on the re-examined content, I came to see you today to make a new proposal.”

“To me?”

Jiseop chuckled.

“You’ve come to the wrong place. We don’t have the authority to recruit players. You should go to the Baseball Operations Department for that…”

“Yes, I know.”

A slight light was returning to Ryan’s rotten pollack eyes.

“I’m on my way back from delivering the official offer to the Baseball Operations Department. But I’ve learned that you always need leverage in these matters.”

“Leverage?”

“Yes, someone who broadly accepts innovative ideas, someone who can have a strong influence on the team’s decisions… If I fully explain my thoughts to such a person, wouldn’t the chances of the deal going through increase?”

It was in the next moment that Jiseop took another look at Ryan Choi.

“For example… someone like the main director of the Future Strategy Planning Department, John Llama Taylor.”

“Me, me? Not Kim?”

John Llama was already beaming, his mouth agape, overjoyed at the compliment.

“Of, of course! Why not! I’m not someone who’s afraid of innovative ideas, am I?”

John Llama puffed out his chest and turned his gaze to Jiseop.

“What do you think, Kim?”

Of course, even in this situation, he was very careful when talking to Jiseop.

“But he says he’s been working hard to prepare after listening to Kim’s advice, so wouldn’t it be okay to hear him out?”

“Well, if Mr. Taylor says so…”

To accurately target the weakest link in the Future Strategy Planning Department, John Llama.

Jiseop inwardly smiled wryly and nodded.

“Alright. Let’s hear it.”

Jiseop said.

“What is Boras Corporation’s proposal? Who did you bring?”

“I’ve prepared the last card for the Tampa Bay Rays to win the World Series.”

Ryan’s voice was full of confidence.

“How about Brett Evans?”

“Brett?”

It was David Wilson who reacted before Jiseop.

“Are you talking about the Cardinals’ ‘Professor’?”

* * *

‘Professor’ Brett Evans.

It was a name Jiseop knew well.

‘How could I not know?’

He was one of the starting pitchers who had once dominated the major league stage.

His velocity wasn’t that fast. Even if he gritted his teeth and threw, it barely exceeded 150 km/h [approximately 93 mph].

However, he was a legend who achieved 250 career wins based on his excellent control and game management skills.

In addition, he was a player who was respected in the baseball world, nicknamed ‘Professor’ due to his gentle personality and strong professionalism.

‘Yes, in terms of name value alone, he’s definitely the best, but…’

There was a slight flaw.

First of all, his age was 41 this year, which is not young for a major league player.

And the more decisive second flaw was-

“If it’s the Professor… wasn’t he already retired?”

That’s right. This was it.

“I don’t think I’ve heard any news of him signing a contract since he was released from San Diego during the last season?”

Ryan nodded quietly at David Wilson’s point.

“That’s right. But he didn’t retire from being an active player. He was preparing to burn his last flame in the independent league.”

“Last flame?”

“Without going into a long explanation… I’d like you to take a look at this.”

Ryan Choi then took out a tablet PC and placed it on the table.

The people in the Future Strategy Planning Department, who were watching the video he played, let out a low sigh.

“Ryan, is this really…”

“Yes, he’s changed a lot, right?”

Ryan’s eyes sparkled.

“He changed his pitching form from high three-quarters to sidearm. He also changed his pitches from a two-seam-slider combination to a four-seam-curveball combination.”

His pitching form changed, and his pitches changed.

At this point, it was no exaggeration to say that he had become a completely new style of pitcher.

“You said earlier that Evans was released from San Diego, but the reality was a little different.”

It wasn’t that the team released him, but that Brett Evans himself requested the termination of his contract.

“He judged that he could no longer play in the major league as he was, so he requested to be released and sought a completely new change.”

Here, the agent from Boras Corporation made a slightly bold move.

“To be honest, contract negotiations have been underway with several teams recently, but… they all ultimately fell through.”

He seemed to have decided to be very open.

“He bravely sought change and achieved some results, but considering his age… To be blunt, the current Brett Evans is only a resource of an average 4th or 5th starter.”

To be honest, the evaluation of ‘average 4th or 5th starter’ was a bit generous.

It would be different if it was a team that lacked starting resources, but the Tampa Bay Rays have traditionally been a team with strong pitchers.

In Jiseop’s view, the current Brett Evans is a player who cannot enter Tampa Bay’s starting rotation.

However, Ryan Choi seemed to have something to believe in.

“I don’t know what you all think, but I’m convinced. Brett Evans will be the last puzzle piece for Tampa Bay’s championship.”

“Why?”

John Llama tilted his head.

“Even though Christopher Ben has left, we are a team with abundant starting resources. We don’t necessarily need to bring in the Professor…”

“Mr. Taylor, aren’t you curious? I thought you would ask first?”

“Yes? About what?”

When John Llama blinked, Ryan Choi smiled gently.

“Why is Brett Evans so insistent on extending his career? He’s already won the Cy Young Award [award given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball] and achieved 250 career wins… Why can’t he let go of his attachment?”

If he set the stage like this, even the great John Llama would have no choice but to catch on.

“Could it be… the championship?”

John Llama said.

“He wants to get a World Series ring? Is that why he’s aiming to extend his career?”

“That’s right! That’s it!”

Ryan Choi clapped his knees.

“Brett Evans has achieved numerous honors, but he has not won a championship ring. That remains a great regret for him.”

It was at this moment that his eyes narrowed.

“On the other hand, according to my research, the Tampa Bay Rays players… lack a bit of passion for winning? Since there are many young players, the challenge of winning may not resonate with them as much.”

That’s why I’m making this proposal.

He continued.

“It’s none other than ‘Professor’ Brett Evans. He’s a legend who is respected by the players. If the ‘story’ of such a person’s last championship challenge is added, wouldn’t the young players of Tampa Bay have a new determination?”

The agent of Boras Corporation, Ryan Choi.

It was at this moment that the decisive blow he had prepared was unleashed.

“Our boss once said something like this.”

He looked at Jiseop.

“Legacy comes from the story.”

* * *

Jiseop could tell.

That Ryan Choi had done a lot of preparation for this negotiation.

That he had come in with an understanding of not only the strategic issues but also the internal affairs of the Tampa Bay team.

If that wasn’t the case, there would be no reason to specifically mention the word ‘legacy’.

“…That’s not bad?”

It was John Llama who reacted first.

“Brett Evans is from Tampa, right? Tampa isn’t that far from St. Petersburg here…”

“A legend returning to his hometown to burn his last flame, I think that’s good too.”

After Vincent Hiyama first pointed out the legacy issue, everyone seemed to have been worried about it.

Let’s give this championship challenge a new story and gather the players’ will based on it.

John Llama and David Wilson were slowly nodding, but Jiseop had one point that was slightly bothering him.

“Ryan.”

“Yes?”

“What does Evans think about the Tampa Bay Rays as a team?”

If it were another team, there might be no need to worry about this.

But with Tampa Bay, it was necessary to check this aspect as well.

“Does he clearly recognize Tampa Bay as his hometown team? Or is he just thinking of it as a place to get a championship ring?”

Jiseop continued.

“I’ve often seen his media interviews… but I don’t think Evans has ever mentioned Tampa Bay much.”

If it’s a star player like Brett Evans, it’s common to know which team he supported as a child.

Because reporters ask so persistently. If he doesn’t reveal it himself, the people around him dig it up and find out the answer.

But as far as Jiseop knew, there were very few players who had mentioned Tampa Bay as their childhood team. And Brett Evans’ name was not on that list.

“It’s a bit difficult to say this myself, but… you know? To win with a story, details are important.”

It would be troublesome if they set the stage for ‘the last challenge in his hometown team’ and later his support team was revealed separately.

As Jiseop, who has to deal with the higher-ups, it was a point that he had to check.

But strangely, a subtle smile was appearing on Ryan Choi’s face after hearing the question.

“Kim, you don’t seem to have listened to me properly.”

“Yes?”

“I really took your advice to heart. This is something I proceeded with based on that… Surely I wouldn’t have missed such a point?”

He said confidently.

“Brett Evans is a huge fan of the Tampa Bay Rays. He still is, but he was really amazing in the past.”

“Amazing?”

“The reason he didn’t reveal this fact in public was because of a very small… trouble in the past.”

His gaze was directed at the photo of Tropicana Field attached to one wall of the office.