Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 138

138. The Second Salary Negotiation (5)

“Manager! A pay cut, you say?”

Before I knew it, I was shouting loud enough to echo through the room.

However, Kim Seok-won, the Pelicans’ general manager, didn’t even flinch.

“What excuse can we make when the team finished 10th? The entire team has to accept it and move forward.”

-Plan to be uncooperative during salary negotiations.

It seems like the information window is wrong.

At this point, it’s not just being uncooperative; it’s just being stubborn, isn’t it?

“Even if the team’s performance is an important evaluation criterion… evaluations should be based on individual player performance.”

“Well, the fact is that we finished 10th this time.”

I guess he’s just going to keep repeating that we finished 10th.

Besides, isn’t it not that big of a deal that the Pelicans finished 10th again this time?

It’s not like it’s the first time.

“So, are all the Pelicans players getting a pay cut this time?”

“That’s right. That’s the team’s situation.”

The negotiation results of other players will be revealed after all salary negotiations are completed, so there was no way to confirm whether what he said was true at the moment.

“So, how much of a pay cut are you thinking about?”

“Your current salary is 70 million won, right? We’ll cut 10 million won from that, making it 60 million won. But since you worked hard, the cut is the lowest.”

“Huh…….”

A 10 million won cut from 70 million won meant a 15% reduction.

I, who had been worrying about how much of an increase I would get, couldn’t help but be taken aback.

“We can’t have a salary party when the team finished 10th.”

His voice was filled with so much spite that it was almost hateful.

“Did the other players accept it and sign?”

“Is there any other way in this situation? Instead, if the team performs well next season, we’ll definitely give you a raise.”

Well, except for So Young-jun, the performance of the other Pelicans players was so terrible that they couldn’t object to any offer they received.

But So Young-jun is definitely different from those players.

“No matter how I think about it, I can’t accept cutting So Young-jun’s salary.”

“Then what are you going to do? Are you going to keep him from playing next season?”

If an agreement wasn’t reached in the salary negotiation with the club, he wouldn’t be able to play next season.

In Korean professional baseball, players were bound to be in a position of weakness.

“Still, I have some data I’ve prepared, so let’s talk about it.”

I handed Kim Seok-won a bundle of the data I had brought.

This was the first time this season that I had to use data I made myself.

I was able to proceed with negotiations with other clubs without having to explain in detail.

“Isn’t it just the same old story in the end? I’ve already checked the data.”

Kim Seok-won took the data I handed him as if he was annoyed.

I struggled to suppress the anger and resentment that welled up inside me and began to speak.

“First of all, I don’t think there will be much disagreement that So Young-jun is ranked first among the Pelicans hitters this season.”

“I wonder?”

Haa…….

Is it a dead end from here?

Honestly, shouldn’t it be obvious that there are no players on the Pelicans team who can be compared to So Young-jun in terms of performance?

“What do you think, Manager?”

“I don’t think there’s much meaning in distinguishing the top performer. It makes sense to distinguish the performance of each player in a team that has performed well, but it’s ironic to distinguish between players in a team like ours.”

The excuse was so pathetic.

If that’s the case, then all the players in the first-place team must have performed well, so shouldn’t they all get the same raise without distinguishing between them?

“Still, shouldn’t we give appropriate rewards to players who have faithfully fulfilled their roles to motivate them?”

“Hmm……. Let’s just finish what you were saying.”

“…….”

I had to work hard to hide my expression for a while.

“So Young-jun recorded 16 home runs and 68 RBIs [Runs Batted In, a baseball statistic], ranking first in home runs and RBIs for the Pelicans. Despite being a shortstop with a heavy defensive burden.”

“Who judges players based on such simple data these days? How much has baseball statistics evolved?”

Classic data is too old, huh?

Of course, I’m not saying we should judge based on that.

“As you can see in the data that is densely written here, the same is true for sabermetrics indicators [advanced baseball statistics]. No matter what data you look at, you won’t be able to find an indicator where So Young-jun is out of the top ranks within the club.”

“Hmm…….”

“Now, let’s compare So Young-jun’s own data. If you compare it to his performance last season, you can see the difference much more clearly.”

Kim Seok-won’s expression didn’t change much even while listening to me.

He seems to be listening, so I should just say everything I want to say.

“Not only have the indicators for hits, home runs, and RBIs improved, but the batting average in scoring position and game-winning hits have also clearly increased. Isn’t it clear that he showed a significantly better record compared to So Young-jun’s performance last year?”

“Who said they didn’t know that? The team finished 10th out of 10 teams, so we’re just asking them to accept that much.”

“I admit that the increase rate is not as high as that of players from other teams with the same performance because the team’s performance is not good. But the pay cut seems too much.”

“Well, listening to you, CEO Kang, it makes sense.”

Phew……. I’m glad things aren’t getting too complicated.

“Then, how much is the increase…….”

As I was about to continue the conversation,

“Let’s reduce the pay cut by half and only cut 5 million won. Can you accept that much?”

Sigh…….

Did he even listen to what I’ve been saying?

It was a word that left me speechless.

“I think we’ll have to meet a few more times and make adjustments.”

“Don’t bother coming back and forth several times; just finish it quickly. I think I have a lot of other things to do besides this.”

“The difference between what I’ve been thinking and what you’re offering is too big. I don’t think we can come to a conclusion in this meeting.”

“Hmm……. I don’t think anything will change even if you do that.”

“I’ll see you next time.”

It was clear that talking any more today would only be a waste of breath.

I had no choice but to leave the Pelicans’ general manager’s office, promising to meet again.

There was no reason for us to rush into a contract either.

As long as the negotiations were completed before the start of next season’s spring camp, there would be no major problems in preparing for the opening.

In negotiations, the party in a hurry is bound to be at a disadvantage.

This was an even more important point to accurately recognize the value of the player.

Even if we faced the worst-case scenario in the salary negotiation, we had countermeasures in place.

* * *

All salary negotiations for agency players except for So Young-jun’s contract were completed.

Michael Scott, who had been enjoying a pleasant vacation in Korea for over a month after finishing the regular season at the end of September, decided to return to the United States in November.

The Jaguars were planning to set up their spring camp in the United States next season, so they were planning to meet again locally in February.

As the day of Michael Scott’s departure was set, So Young-jun, who had become close friends with him, came to the agency’s accommodation to see him off at the airport.

“Scott, your salary went up a lot this time. I’m jealous.”

I could feel that So Young-jun was genuinely envious from his expression.

“So, tell me everything you want to eat. I’ll buy it all for you.”

“Wow, you’re a great hyung [older brother or respected male figure].”

So Young-jun gave Scott a thumbs up.

“Since when did Scott suddenly become a hyung?”

“Originally, if you make a lot of money, you’re a hyung. Actually, he’s been a hyung since this year, but from next year, Scott is completely a hyung.”

So Young-jun answered me and then playfully burrowed into Scott as if he was trying to hug him.

Ding-dong. Ding-dong.

“It’s finally here.”

Oh Seok-hoon hurried out and received the delivered food that had arrived.

Scott was already reverently waiting, having finished preparing to eat the food.

As Oh Seok-hoon entered, the house was instantly filled with the smell of seasoned chicken.

“Wow, it smells amazing again today.”

Scott was busy smelling the scent, flaring his nostrils.

“Does Scott like chicken that much?”

Oh Seok-hoon asked with a curious expression.

“Just watch him eat it later. It’s no joke.”

So Young-jun shook his head.

“So much so that chicken sponsorships came into our agency like crazy? At this rate, we’ll be eating different chicken every time we do a live broadcast.”

Oh Seok-hoon, who heard my and So Young-jun’s answers, turned his gaze to Scott with an interesting expression.

However, Scott’s eyes suddenly became moist as he was about to eat the chicken.

“There’s not much of this left now.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

So Young-jun looked at Scott with a bewildered expression.

“I feel so sad thinking that I can’t eat this anymore.”

“Scott, aren’t you coming to Korea next year?”

“I am.”

“What, anyone who doesn’t know would think you’re leaving Korea altogether.”

So Young-jun burst into laughter as if he was dumbfounded.

His sadness was only temporary, and Scott showed an amazing mukbang [eating broadcast] as if he was having his first meal of the day.

Oh Seok-hoon and Park Seong-ju, who were seeing this scene with their own eyes for the first time, simply exclaimed and watched Scott’s mukbang.

He quickly devoured almost two chickens in one sitting.

After a while, Scott was enjoying the afterglow, patting his stomach as if he was satisfied this time as well.

So Young-jun approached me and said a word.

“CEO, I have nothing scheduled for tomorrow, so why don’t we go out and play with Scott?”

“Should we?”

It might be nice to spend time playing with the agency players.

“How about we all go to the amusement park? It’s been a really long time since I’ve been there.”

Park Seong-ju said with an already excited expression.

“That’s good. There are a lot of things to play around with there.”

So Young-jun also responded to Park Seong-ju’s words.

“Let’s do that. Let’s gather all the players who want to go tomorrow and go.”

Spending time in a fun place, including an amusement park, would create good memories for Scott.

Suddenly, Park Seong-ju raised his hand.

“I’ll drive. I just got my driver’s license yesterday. It’s a new car, so it’s clean.”

“You, you? Have you had enough practice? Even if you have a driver’s license, it’s better to get enough practice…….”

I couldn’t help but stutter at the sudden, unexpected remark.

“I also got practice while preparing for the driver’s license test. I also booked additional training for next week.”

“Next week?”

Then, is it almost the first time you’re driving tomorrow?

“But he seemed to be doing well when I saw him taking the driving test. You don’t have to worry.”

“Y-yes. Is everyone okay with that?”

“…….”

When I turned my head, it seemed that the other players’ thoughts were not much different from mine.

“Is there insurance……?”

“I got the most expensive one. Don’t worry.”

Park Seong-ju’s expression was full of confidence, as if there was no need to worry at all.

“Just because you have good insurance doesn’t mean you won’t have an accident…….”

Surely, nothing will happen.