Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 147

147. Difficult FA Negotiations (9)

“I want to finalize the contract with Go Ji-hoon for sure.”

I could feel Choi Min-sung, the Buffaloes general manager, trying hard not to reveal his true feelings.

“We also hope to sign a contract with good terms. If the Buffaloes’ offer is good, there’s no reason to refuse.”

I raised the corners of my mouth, fully enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.

“Would it be possible to sign a contract for a total of 6 billion won, including options? 5 billion won guaranteed and 1 billion won in options. The option clauses are at a level that Go Ji-hoon should be able to achieve without any major injuries.”

6 billion won. It was definitely the best offer so far.

It was also the amount I had initially considered.

But,

-The manager is burdened with the task of securing Go Ji-hoon.

Now that I know this important information, I can’t end it easily.

“It’s going to be a little difficult with this amount.”

I shook my head without hesitation.

“Yes? We talked about it like that last time?”

Choi Min-sung’s face was full of embarrassment.

“That was last time. As the general manager knows, the situation has changed in many ways. There are more than one or two clubs that have contacted us wanting to sign Go Ji-hoon. That’s why you came all the way here.”

“…….”

Choi Min-sung was listening to my story, stiffened as if he thought he had completely lost control of the negotiation.

“The offers from other clubs are also very attractive to us. Buffaloes will have to show a little more sincerity for us to make a decision.”

“Then how much would be enough?”

Choi Min-sung asked me back, trying not to lose his composure.

This was the important part.

If I suddenly made an excessive offer, there was a clear possibility that the negotiation itself would fall apart.

We had to propose a level that would sufficiently benefit us, but would be ambiguous enough for the other party to consider.

“Just add 500 million won.”

“500 million won……?”

“If you guarantee that amount, I think there will be a definite merit to transfer.”

“Can that 500 million won be included as an option?”

“The choice is up to the general manager. But we would prefer it to be a guaranteed amount.”

It seemed like I was giving the club a choice, but in reality, it would be a difficult offer to refuse.

Choi Min-sung quickly calculated, as if turning his head,

“Okay. Let’s make it a guaranteed amount.”

So that’s 6.5 billion won for 4 years.

5.5 billion won guaranteed and 1 billion won in options.

The salary conditions were more satisfactory than initially planned.

But there was still one important thing left.

“And would it be possible to include the clause I mentioned last time?”

“The starting pitcher guarantee requirement?”

“Yes.”

Since they matched the total amount to our proposal, this proposal should pass smoothly.

“Okay, let’s include it. But we also have one condition.”

“What condition?”

“If Go Ji-hoon pitches more than 100 innings in the previous season, we will guarantee his starting position for the next season.”

“…….”

“Of course, we’re not saying that we’ll unconditionally move him to the bullpen if he doesn’t reach 100 innings. However, we need to have a choice in that situation.”

From the club’s point of view, they would need a clause to reduce the risk.

But unless Go Ji-hoon suffered an unexpected injury, he should be able to handle about 100 innings without any problems.

I had to accept it at this point to prevent the negotiation from falling apart.

“Okay. Add that clause too.”

“Then when can we write the contract?”

I could feel him trying to maintain a poker face, but the urgent words and actions that were naturally revealed were inevitable.

“It’s a part that requires final confirmation from Go Ji-hoon. I will contact you as soon as the player decides.”

It was definitely the best condition so far.

But since it was a situation where he had to transfer, I had to check what Go Ji-hoon himself thought.

* * *

While I was talking with General Manager Choi Min-sung, another major issue broke out in the FA [Free Agent] market.

└Nice! At least we avoided falling to the bottom!

└If the Angels want to go up, they have to keep Go Sung-pyo as a basic. Well done.

└Still, they got the top domestic starter, so just pick the foreign players well.

└If Go Sung-pyo and two foreign players take the starting positions, and Jang Su-young closes the back door, we can make some calculations for pitcher operation.

A smile naturally appeared on my face.

Go Sung-pyo, who the Doubles thought they could sign, remained with the Angels, and Go Ji-hoon was already in a fierce recruitment competition.

If they couldn’t get Go Ji-hoon, it was clear that the Doubles’ pitching plans for next season would not be easy.

What would General Manager Kim Gyu-sang of the Doubles be looking like right now?

Just imagining it was enjoyable.

I felt a little sorry for Choi Jeong-hwan, but at this moment, it was so satisfying.

If they had shown a little sincerity at the beginning of the negotiation, I wouldn’t have gone this far.

Weeing-

As expected, my smartphone had no time to rest.

As expected, the caller was General Manager Kim Gyu-sang.

“General Manager.”

“Representative Kang, where are you now?”

“I’m at our agency office.”

“I’m going there right now. Don’t go anywhere.”

“I’m busy today…….”

Before I could answer,

Beep beep beep.

The call had already ended.

I was going to pretend to be busy just once.

The general manager is eager to meet me, so I’ll just meet him once.

Not long after, I could hear the doorbell.

I guided Kim Gyu-sang to the office.

Kim Gyu-sang started talking before he even sat down properly.

“Go Ji-hoon hasn’t signed a contract yet, right?”

“We’ve made a lot of progress in the negotiations, but we haven’t signed the contract yet.”

“That’s a relief. Let’s talk to us and decide.”

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

Seeing Kim Gyu-sang looking so urgent, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“What’s the best offer Go Ji-hoon has received? We’ll match it 100%.”

Really?

Then shall I go all out?

“It’s 8 billion won for 4 years.”

“8 billion won?!”

Kim Gyu-sang couldn’t easily unfold his distorted expression.

“Yes. 8 billion won.”

I replied without any change in expression.

Kim Gyu-sang stared at me blankly for a moment, as if he had lost his words.

“No matter how good Go Ji-hoon is, isn’t that amount too much?”

Kim Gyu-sang burst into laughter as if he was dumbfounded.

“Why isn’t Go Ji-hoon that good of a player?”

“He’s a pitcher and he’s not young. Can he show performance worth an average annual salary of 2 billion won for the next 4 years?”

Of course, I agreed that the amount was excessive.

But, there’s something that shouldn’t be left out.

It was my turn to pay it back.

“General Manager, you know about the law of supply and demand, right?”

“…….”

Kim Gyu-sang stiffened as if he had predicted what I was going to say.

“The reason why the price of goods is determined in the market is not only because of its value, but also because the market situation is really important. I learned that it is a natural principle that prices rise when the supply is limited but there are many people who want to buy it.”

“……Does that mean other clubs have called that much?”

“Doubles shouldn’t call as much as other clubs now. You have to offer better conditions to sign him.”

“Isn’t Go Ji-hoon a Doubles franchise player? If the conditions are the same, he would want to stay with the Doubles. You need to offer better conditions when you’re trying to sign him from another team, right?”

Of course, if it was the beginning of the negotiation, I would have tried to do that.

But considering what the Doubles did during the negotiation process, I wanted to recommend the transfer even out of spite.

Even more so if I thought about the humiliating moments that I couldn’t even convey to Go Ji-hoon.

“My role is to give the player the best contract. I’m just doing my job.”

“Is it the best contract to force a player who is considered a franchise of one team to transfer to another team because of the agency’s greed?”

The best contract.

That had to vary depending on the player’s personality and situation.

And I knew exactly what the best contract would be for Go Ji-hoon.

I looked into Kim Gyu-sang’s eyes and said.

“Making it possible for players to feel happy and play in a place where they can be most respected. Isn’t that the best contract an agent can do for a player?”

* * *

Now, only Go Ji-hoon’s final choice remained.

I met Go Ji-hoon and handed him three proposals.

“The clubs that we specifically negotiated with are the Doubles, Buffaloes, and Angels.”

Go Ji-hoon picked up the Doubles’ proposal first.

The Doubles finally offered 7 billion won for 4 years, including 3 billion won in options.

It was an incomparably higher offer than the initial 2.3 billion won for 4 years, and the total amount was higher than the Buffaloes’ offer of 6.5 billion won with 1 billion won in options.

Instead, the proportion and difficulty of the options were high, and the starting pitcher guarantee requirement was only guaranteed for the first year.

After flipping through the front, he tilted his head and asked me.

“The Doubles’ offer is much better than what I heard at first?”

“The offers got better as the competition got fiercer.”

“Hmm…….”

Go Ji-hoon nodded once and looked at the proposal again.

“Then I guess we should see the Angels as the lowest?”

“It’s clear that the contract conditions are the lowest. The fact that they put in the starting pitcher guarantee requirement for sure is a positive part. And if you go to the Angels, you will definitely be treated as an irreplaceable ace in the team.”

There was no pitcher in the Angels right now who could be expected to perform better than Go Ji-hoon.

That meant that even if there was no clause in the contract, there was a high possibility that he would be guaranteed a starting position.

“So if you only look at the money, the Doubles is the best, even though the proportion of options is high.”

“That’s right. The Doubles’ options are difficult, but not to the point where it’s difficult to receive.”

“Hmm…….”

Go Ji-hoon picked up the Doubles’ proposal again and pondered.

After a while, he put down the proposal and asked me a question.

“What do you think, Representative? Which club would you like to recommend?”

I hesitated for a moment and carefully opened my mouth.

“It’s true that proving value with money is a pro, but isn’t it best to play baseball while being most respected as a player?”

“Hmm……. It’s not easy.”

I could feel deep 고민 [worry/anguish] in Go Ji-hoon’s expression.

“You don’t have to decide right now. Think about it enough and tell me.”

Go Ji-hoon nodded and fell into thought again.

I’ve done everything I can do.

Now, all that’s left is to wait for his decision.

What decision will Go Ji-hoon make?