Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 154

154. Can’t Just Give In (1)

Before I knew it, all the players who had declared free agency, including Go Ji-hoon, had completed their contracts.

It seemed like the contract season in professional baseball was coming to an end.

But there was still one negotiation that hadn’t finished.

It was the salary negotiation of So Young-joon of the Pelicans.

“Joo-hyuk, how are the talks with the Pelicans going?”

Even after my last meeting with the general manager, I had continued conversations with other staff members through Lee Joo-hyuk.

Hoping there might be something positive,

“We’ve talked several times, but nothing has changed from the initial offer.”

“Hmm…”

“It doesn’t seem like something that can be resolved by the staff. It seems like the only way is for you, CEO Kang, to negotiate with Kim Seok-won, the Pelicans’ general manager.”

“I guess so.”

I took a deep breath and leaned back in my chair.

Why are they doing this?

There’s not much time left until the next season starts.

The general manager should wrap this up quickly so he can move on to other tasks.

“Joo-hyuk, why is General Manager Kim Seok-won acting like this?”

“I looked up interviews that General Manager Kim Seok-won has done, and it seems like he has a really old-fashioned mindset.”

At the word ‘old-fashioned,’ I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“That’s right. His methods for managing the team and the players and coaches are all old school.”

It was clear that Kim Seok-won’s influence was a significant reason why the Pelicans consistently ranked at the bottom.

“How should we deal with someone like that…?”

“Hoo… He’s not an easy opponent in many ways.”

I couldn’t help but sigh.

I thought the troublesome matters had ended with former Buffaloes minor league coach Lee Jin-won.

“CEO Kang, what should we do if our opinions keep running parallel like this? Even I can see that a pay cut doesn’t make sense…”

Lee Joo-hyuk asked with a worried expression.

“…”

“If this goes on, it’ll be a big problem if he can’t participate in spring camp.”

That can never happen.

The longer the negotiations dragged on, the more the player suffered.

If he’s stressed about the negotiation issues at a time when he should be fully focused on preparing for the season, it will affect his performance.

That’s why we had to prevent the worst-case scenario for the player.

“Even if the club is being uncooperative, it doesn’t mean we don’t have options.”

Choosing that method would be tiring, but what else could we do?

I couldn’t tolerate a player under my agency receiving unfair treatment.

* * *

It was time for another colleague to join the agency’s accommodation.

Ding-dong. Ding-dong.

As soon as we heard the doorbell, Lee Joo-hyuk and I went outside to greet him.

“Welcome, Coach.”

“CEO Kang, you even came out to meet me.”

I shook hands with Jung In-gyu and exchanged greetings.

“Joo-hyuk, how have you been?”

“Yes, I’ve been well.”

Jung In-gyu also greeted Lee Joo-hyuk warmly.

“Let’s go inside. It’s cold.”

Lee Joo-hyuk and I divided Jung In-gyu’s luggage and walked through the yard.

“This place is really amazing, no matter how many times I see it.”

“You’ll be staying here for a long time, so take your time to enjoy it.”

“I think I’ve joined a really great company.”

Jung In-gyu kept exclaiming in admiration as he walked to the accommodation.

I led Jung In-gyu to a room on the first floor.

“I think you can use this room. How is it? Is it okay?”

“Oh, it’s more than enough.”

“The cleaning will be done every day. You don’t have to worry about them touching the things you put on the table.”

“This is practically a hotel.”

Jung In-gyu shook his head in disbelief, his mouth wide open.

“Have you had lunch?”

“Of course not. I was in such a hurry to come here.”

“That’s good. Let’s eat first.”

“Is the food amazing at our agency too?”

“Of course.”

At my words, Jung In-gyu put down his luggage with an expectant look and hurried away.

As we were about to eat, Oh Seok-hoon, Park Seong-joo, Seo Seong-min, Go Ji-hoon, Choi Jeong-hwan, Jang Soo-young, and So Young-joon, who had been training in the basement training room, came up.

Everyone was there except for Na Joon-ho, who was living in the provinces, and Michael Scott, who had temporarily returned to the United States.

“Coach, you’re here!”

“Has everyone been well?”

Jung In-gyu greeted Oh Seok-hoon, Park Seong-joo, Choi Jeong-hwan, Jang Soo-young, and So Young-joon, whom he had already met.

“Isn’t this the first time you’re seeing Seong-min and Ji-hoon?”

I looked back and forth between the three of them and asked.

“It’s the first time I’m meeting you in person. Hello, I’m Jung In-gyu.”

Jung In-gyu bowed to Seo Seong-min and Go Ji-hoon.

Then Go Ji-hoon reached out his hand first.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. I heard a very capable coach was coming, and now I get to meet you like this.”

“You’re too kind. I’m still learning.”

“Our CEO Kang told me to trust anyone he brings along without question.”

Go Ji-hoon smiled at Jung In-gyu.

“I’ll do my best to help.”

Jung In-gyu replied, shaking Go Ji-hoon’s hand.

Then Seo Seong-min, who was next to him, also offered Jung In-gyu a handshake.

“I look forward to working with you too. Please train us hard, Coach.”

“Of course. Don’t worry about that.”

When the friendly greetings seemed to be over to some extent,

“Let’s eat first, since we’re hungry.”

We ate and talked.

As the family grew, it seemed like meal times would continue to be bustling like this for a while.

* * *

After lunch, I sat facing Jung In-gyu and Lee Joo-hyuk in the office.

We were planning to discuss the tasks that needed to be done from now on.

It wasn’t the first time the three of us had held a meeting together, but I felt different knowing that Jung In-gyu had fully joined our agency.

“As I’ve already mentioned, we’re planning to go on a training camp with our agency’s players soon.”

Na Joon-ho, who had already offered to provide support, as well as Go Ji-hoon, who had signed a free agent contract, readily offered to help.

It was difficult to refuse outright when they said they wanted to support us because we had secured a good contract for them.

Instead, I made it clear that this was the first and last time we would receive such support.

“Which country are we going to?”

“I’m thinking of going to Guam.”

It was relatively close, and there was almost no time difference.

And of course, the weather was warm.

“Wow, that’s a really good idea!”

Jung In-gyu bumped fists with Lee Joo-hyuk and rejoiced.

“Coach In-gyu, please secure the training facilities and organize the training program. Joo-hyuk, please prepare the flights and transportation.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Jung In-gyu and Lee Joo-hyuk answered almost simultaneously.

“And before we leave for training camp, we’re going to try to recruit foreign players.”

“Oh, a company that’s even global.”

Jung In-gyu once again opened his mouth in admiration.

“Joo-hyuk and I will have to go on a business trip to the United States before we leave for training camp. If we want to be able to make proposals to the clubs during this winter recruitment season, we won’t have much time.”

Jo Gwang-hoon, the Jaguars’ general manager, had said he would definitely sign a contract, but a contract is never certain until the ink is dry.

“Joo-hyuk, please prepare to meet with Thomas and discuss things.”

“Yes, I’ll prepare it.”

Lee Joo-hyuk replied, writing down a note.

Now I turned my head back to Jung In-gyu and said.

“And Coach Jung.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“While we’re on a business trip, please take care of the players’ physical condition.”

“Of course. Don’t worry about that and go.”

“Then, I’ll trust you, Coach.”

Jung In-gyu smiled and nodded at my words.

I felt relieved that there was someone who could systematically manage the players even when I was away.

All I had to do was focus on the things that needed to be done before this winter passed.

* * *

To focus on preparing for next season, it was necessary to finish the salary negotiations first.

I visited Kim Seok-won, the Pelicans’ general manager, again.

“General Manager, let’s come to a conclusion today.”

I got straight to the point as soon as I met him.

It wasn’t like Kim Seok-won and I were exchanging pleasantries, and the current situation wasn’t good either.

“Let’s do that.”

Kim Seok-won sat down, putting on airs.

“Has the club sorted out its thoughts?”

“What is there for me to do? The agency has to sort things out and come to me.”

Kim Seok-won cleared his throat loudly and said.

“So, you’re saying that nothing has changed from the last offer?”

“All the other players signed with those terms.”

It felt like I was talking to a wall.

“Does that mean it’s difficult to reach a conclusion today as well?”

“CEO Kang, why don’t you just wrap it up here? The more noise you make about this, the more the player suffers.”

“If it were a player without an agent, they would reluctantly sign, but that will never happen with our player.”

Kim Seok-won chuckled at my firm answer and replied.

“It’s good to see the agent’s passion, but if the salary negotiation isn’t finalized, our club won’t be able to take the player to spring camp.”

“There’s no way I’d let that happen, right? I’ll definitely resolve it before then.”

“Even if you’re an agent, you can’t adjust opinions by being so rigid, you know.”

“But what can I do when what you’re saying is at an unacceptable level?”

“Still, what can you do? You have to compromise moderately, even if you’re not 100% satisfied.”

It was a waste of time to keep talking in this place.

“Then there’s nothing more I can do.”

I paused for a moment and continued.

“We will apply for salary arbitration.”

“What? Salary arbitration?”

Kim Seok-won’s eyebrows twitched.

“Isn’t that what it’s there for?”

“Hahaha. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that word.”

It was understandable that his memory was hazy.

The last salary arbitration application was more than 10 years ago.

“It’s not like I want to apply for salary arbitration. It’s not a good look to have other people know about the club’s internal affairs. It’s better to adjust opinions well and resolve it in this place.”

“What’s the problem? Just sign our offer. Then it’ll be over cleanly.”

It was clear that there was no change in Kim Seok-won’s thinking.

It seemed like it wasn’t a situation I could avoid.

“Then there’s no other choice. I really have no choice but to try applying for salary arbitration.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with that? The player has hardly ever won with that. And if you don’t accept the judgment made there, it’s immediate retirement. So Young-joon’s career will be over.”

If he was placed on the voluntarily retired list, he would not be able to return to the field without the club’s permission.

In fact, it meant retirement from the domestic stage.

“Don’t worry about us. We’ll definitely win.”

I smiled at Kim Seok-won, who was smirking with one corner of his mouth raised.