Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 144

144.

A Difficult FA Negotiation (6)

It was the day of my second negotiation meeting with the Doubles.

Considering the articles that had been released since the first negotiation and my remarks at the awards ceremony, I wondered if there would be any changes in their approach to the negotiation.

I met with Kim Gyu-sang, the Doubles’ general manager, with a bit of anticipation.

However, even before the negotiation started, I was more certain than anyone else that I wouldn’t be satisfied with today’s meeting.

-I want to conclude the Ko Ji-hoon negotiation today.

-If Ko Ji-hoon makes unreasonable demands, we plan to sign Angels’ FA [Free Agent] starting pitcher Ko Seong-pyo instead.

The player Lim Ye-ji suggested was Angels’ Ko Seong-pyo.

As a player who was also selected for the national team and three years younger than Ko Ji-hoon, he was definitely an attractive card.

To be blunt, from the Doubles’ perspective, even if they lost Ko Ji-hoon, signing Ko Seong-pyo would be as good as strengthening their team.

That must be why they’re being so rigid.

“Has the agency had a chance to sort out its thoughts?”

Kim Gyu-sang asked me, clasping his hands together.

“Our position hasn’t changed much since last time. We’re looking at a four-year contract, and we can discuss the option clauses.”

“A four-year guarantee? If we can’t agree on the contract length, it will be difficult to reach a conclusion even today.”

Kim Gyu-sang tilted his head.

Seeing his reaction, I took a deep breath and tilted my head as I replied.

“It seems the Doubles don’t value their franchise star very much.”

Even if there were alternative options, it certainly didn’t feel like they were respecting their franchise star.

“We don’t want to lose our franchise star. Because he’s a franchise star, we want to keep him as much as possible.”

Kim Gyu-sang answered firmly.

“There seems to be a significant disconnect between what you’re offering and what you’re saying.”

“Business is definitely business. Wouldn’t it be better for both of us to keep them separate?”

Business, he’s not wrong.

“What criteria does the general manager use to determine a FA player’s value when signing them?”

“Well, future value. How much value this player can create while they’re with our team.”

“So, you’re saying that’s how much you value Ko Ji-hoon’s future value? A mere 3 years and 2 billion won?”

“To be blunt, that’s what it is. Recent data also proves that.”

“Aren’t you considering the positive impact Ko Ji-hoon has on the Doubles organization at all?”

“What impact are you talking about?”

“The fact that fans especially like and look forward to Ko Ji-hoon among the Doubles players.”

On average, more spectators came to the stadium for games where Ko Ji-hoon was pitching.

The TV ratings also increased compared to other starting pitchers’ games.

Kim Gyu-sang pondered for a moment and then added something as if he had thought of something.

“Oh, right, I almost forgot one important thing.”

“……?”

“We can’t ignore the law of supply and demand. Our team’s Jung-hwan is also with Dream Agency, so we’re trying to accommodate you as much as possible, but we already know very well what the market’s reaction is.”

“…….”

As I listened quietly, Kim Gyu-sang leaned forward slightly and continued.

“To be blunt, no domestic team will try to sign Ko Ji-hoon. The cost of acquiring an A-level player is too high. If there’s no competition, the price won’t go up. And it would be difficult for Ko Ji-hoon to advance to the international stage.”

“So, you mean your last offer is the maximum?”

He was just beating around the bush; it seemed nothing had changed from the last meeting.

“As a concession, we’re willing to adjust the contract length to four years. After careful consideration, I thought it would be necessary to show minimal consideration for our team’s player.”

Yes, yes, thank you so much.

“So, can I assume the Doubles’ offer is 4 years and 2.5 billion won?”

“No. 4 years and 2.3 billion won.”

I couldn’t help but stop at Kim Gyu-sang’s words.

“How did you get to 2.3 billion won? If you calculate it at 500 million won per year, it should be 2.5 billion won with an extra season.”

“It seems that 300 million won would be appropriate for the last season. If it’s the fourth year, he’ll be 36 years old, and the chances of him performing well at that time are slim.”

Even 4 years and 2.5 billion won wasn’t a satisfactory offer…….

Now it wasn’t even that.

“I’ve heard the Doubles’ opinion. I think we can wrap up the negotiations here.”

I picked up my bag and stood up from my seat.

“Please convey this to Ko Ji-hoon as well. Let’s quickly complete the contract and prepare for the season with a light heart, and aim for the championship together next season.”

Kim Gyu-sang also stood up and said to me.

I didn’t say anything special, forced a smile, and left the general manager’s office.

“……Hoo.”

I expected it to be different from the Na Jun-ho negotiation.

I didn’t expect it to be this different.

Even I, as an agent, feel like my pride is hurt.

If the player had negotiated directly…….

He would not only feel humiliated but also have doubts about his entire career.

I left the Doubles stadium and sent another message to Lee Soo-min.

└It seems the negotiation isn’t going well.

└Dream Agency seems to be using media play to raise Ko Ji-hoon’s value.

└I can’t imagine Ko Ji-hoon wearing another team’s uniform.

└They’re just talking like this, but they’ll sign the contract. Would he really transfer?

└Well, Ko Ji-hoon has a lot of pride in the Doubles.

└In the end, professional players are evaluated by their salary, aren’t they?

└The Doubles should also play hard to get and then sign him. They must know that there will be an uproar if he transfers to another team.

└Kang Hyun-woo made Na Jun-ho stay with the Dragons, so he’ll do it this time too, right?

└Ko Ji-hoon should have his number retired by the Doubles!!! Kang Hyun-woo, please do well!

* * *

As promised at the awards ceremony, I went to meet Buffaloes’ general manager Choi Min-sung as soon as I finished the meeting with the Doubles.

-We expect there will be little competition from other teams in the Ko Ji-hoon acquisition.

-We are willing to spend up to 5 billion won in total to acquire Ko Ji-hoon.

We expect there will be little competition…….

It was a sentence that hurt my pride more and more as I looked at it.

Even though Buffaloes’ interest in signing him already made this statement contradictory.

Fortunately, they had a larger total amount prepared than the Doubles.

“Representative Kang, do you know how much my stomach ached during the second half of the season?”

“Your stomach ached?”

“Every time I saw Michael Scott pitching, I felt so bad. He used to be our player,” I kept saying.

“You just have to make sure you don’t miss out on a good player this time.”

I replied with a faint smile.

“By the way, it seems like the contract between Ko Ji-hoon and the Doubles isn’t going smoothly?”

Choi Min-sung had probably seen several articles already, so it was natural for him to guess the atmosphere.

“It’s not easy to agree from the beginning when signing a contract.”

“Then, how much of an offer would be appropriate to win Ko Ji-hoon’s heart?”

“You have to make a better offer than other teams.”

I knew the maximum amount Buffaloes was thinking of from the information window, but I didn’t need to reveal my card first.

“Then, let me tell you what we’re thinking first. We have about 4 billion won prepared in total. A 4-year contract with a signing bonus of 800 million won and an annual salary of 800 million won.”

First of all, the first offer was incomparably better than the Doubles’ conditions.

However, there was still plenty of potential to create even better conditions, as the information window told me.

“If Buffaloes really wants to sign him, you’ll have to offer slightly better conditions than this, wouldn’t you say?”

“How much is the agency thinking of?”

“6 billion won for 4 years.”

“6 billion won……?”

Choi Min-sung couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

“Doesn’t Buffaloes want to strengthen its starting pitcher lineup?”

“Of course, we do.”

“If you sign Ko Ji-hoon, you’ll definitely be able to satisfy that part.”

I said confidently, looking into Choi Min-sung’s eyes.

“But isn’t 6 billion won too expensive?”

“General Manager, he’s a national-level starting pitcher. He’s also considered the best player in the Doubles, excluding foreign players. He’s definitely a player worth more than 6 billion won.”

The fact that he was the second starter in important short-term games like the postseason was enough to prove it.

“That’s true, but…….”

I could tell what Choi Min-sung was worried about without having to listen.

“You’re worried about injuries, right?”

“That’s right. Looking at Ko Ji-hoon’s career record, he hasn’t completed a season without injuries very often. He’s not the type of player you can expect to pitch a complete game in the first place.”

Choi Min-sung nodded vigorously in agreement.

“General Manager, then how about we do this?”

As Choi Min-sung nodded as if to tell me to speak, I continued.

“Let’s put some of the 6 billion won into option clauses. If we include conditions for the number of games played and the number of innings pitched, the team can sufficiently reduce the risk.”

“Hmm……. It certainly seems like we need options.”

It seemed like there was something else he wanted to say.

“How about we adjust the total amount to around 5 billion won.”

It was as I had confirmed in the information window.

It seemed like they had raised it by 1 billion won through negotiations, but I already knew that Buffaloes was thinking about this amount.

“Our offer is 6 billion won.”

That’s why I could answer without wavering at all.

“Hmm……. 6 billion won.”

In fact, even if he was the general manager, it was difficult to decide on an additional expenditure of 1 billion won right away.

“You don’t have to decide right away. But signing the contract quickly before there’s more competition would also be a good strategy.”

“So, you’re saying the total amount has to be 6 billion won?”

“Yes.”

I gave a short answer and didn’t add anything else.

“There’s a bit of a difference from what we prepared, so I think we’ll need some time to discuss it internally.”

That’s true, but we can’t leave out this word either.

“And there’s one condition we need.”

“What condition?”

“I would like you to guarantee Ko Ji-hoon’s starting position.”

“If we sign Ko Ji-hoon, we should use him as a starter, of course. That’s why we’re signing him.”

Choi Min-sung smiled as if asking why I was saying something so obvious.

“I want to be guaranteed it exactly in the contract, is that possible?”

“Does that mean…… you want to put a clause in the contract guaranteeing the starting position?”

Choi Min-sung’s expression slightly distorted at my words.

“Yes, it’s a condition that our player really wants.”

“Hmm…….”

I could feel a different kind of concern on Choi Min-sung’s face than when we were discussing the salary.