Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 75

Whirlwind Shaking the League (6)

“Is there a reason why the Angels are not an option?”

“If you go to the Angels, Jang Su-young will become the third highest-paid player on the team.”

“Really…?”

“If you transfer to the Angels, you will be classified as FA [Free Agent] Grade A.”

When a player declares free agency, they are divided into three grades: A, B, and C.

The criteria for dividing these grades are based on the level of salary they receive within their club and throughout the entire league.

Jang Su-young, who receives 250 million won, was Grade B in the Wolves, where there are many high-paid players, but if he transfers to the Angels, he will be classified as Grade A.

The biggest difference between Grade B and Grade A is the amount of compensation that the team acquiring the player must provide to the original team when the player transfers to another team as a free agent.

The higher the grade, the greater the compensation.

Therefore, if Jang Su-young moves from Grade B to Grade A, it would not be beneficial in the future FA negotiations.

Im Ye-ji was already worried about the disadvantages that Jang Su-young would face in the FA contract a few years later.

“That’s true, but…”

“Even if it’s what the player wants, is it worth taking the disadvantage of going from Grade B to Grade A?”

“…….”

I was momentarily speechless.

I turned my head to look at Kim Min-hwan.

He was just looking at the table, lost in thought.

I guess I have no choice but to talk directly.

“It’s not wrong to say that the situation becomes unfavorable in FA negotiations if the grade goes up, but if we move to a team that can make the player’s value shine more and help them achieve better results, wouldn’t that be enough to compensate?”

“Hmm…”

Im Ye-ji was listening to me with a serious expression.

“The role of a one-point reliever, no matter how well you do it, has clear limitations in getting a good evaluation in the market. Giving the image of a pitcher who can reliably block one inning when the team is leading, even if they are not a closer, is a much better way to increase their value.”

And, more than anything, this is how Jang Su-young can play happily.

It was what I really wanted to say more than anything else, but it didn’t seem like it would do any good to tell Im Ye-ji.

“Is Hyun-woo sure that Jang Su-young can succeed even if he takes on the closer position?”

“Of course.”

“I know that there are quite a few cases where players who did well as setup men collapse after taking on the closer position, but is there any basis for believing that Jang Su-young will not be like that?”

The pressure that the 9th inning gives to a pitcher is on a different level than other innings.

In the early and mid-game, there are opportunities to make up for mistakes, but in the last inning, the 9th inning, that is not the case at all.

The outcome of the game could be completely changed by one ball they throw.

This is why a pitcher who throws well in the 8th inning becomes a completely different player in the 9th inning.

“Jang Su-young basically shows consistent performance against both left-handed and right-handed hitters, and he also has precise control. And above all, he has shown that his mentality does not easily waver even in crisis situations.”

“…….”

“It can be confirmed by records, but he has a lot of experience in blocking tough situations well when he was on the mound. There will be no problem even if he takes on the role of closer right now.”

Even after I finished speaking, Im Ye-ji was silent for a while.

After thinking for a moment, she raised her head and met my eyes.

“Then what is the possibility of a trade with the Angels?”

“I can’t say for sure that it will happen, but it seems certain that it is the most likely of those that have been mentioned so far.”

It was certain that Ji Young-wook of the Angels was the style of player that the Wolves needed right now.

“Let’s pass it on to the Wolves first.”

“Yes!”

I was cheering inwardly when I met Kim Min-hwan’s eyes.

I could feel that Kim Min-hwan was feeling the same way as me.

Kim Min-hwan must have intuitively felt that he was playing an important role in this trade.

A burst of laughter erupted as I saw him unable to hide his excitement.

* * *

I went straight to meet Park Young-no, the Wolves’ general manager.

“Angels’ Ji Young-wook?”

“Isn’t he exactly the player the Wolves need right now?”

“Hmm…”

“Ji Young-wook’s addition will greatly help with defensive operations.”

“I think so.”

Park Young-no nodded as if it was quite impressive, so I shrugged my shoulders.

“It’s clear that it would be great if Ji Young-wook came, but it’s a shame that we have to send Jang Su-young away…”

“General Manager, in Major League Baseball, they do Win-Now trades [trades made to improve a team’s chances of winning immediately]. If we can win the championship this season by trading like this, wouldn’t it be much better for the team?”

“That’s true, but.”

-I think we can aim for the championship if we acquire Ji Young-wook.

-I’m worried about whether it’s the right choice to give up Jang Su-young.

The reason why Park Young-no is worried now was clear.

It was a concern that arose because all 10 teams play in the same league.

If the player they gave up performs better than the player they brought in through the trade, it could have a direct impact on the team’s performance, as well as the criticism from fans.

Because they have to consider this, it was difficult for trades of starting-level players to be completed in Korea.

“Didn’t the Angels say anything else?”

“They seem to have made a firm decision. Now all that’s left is for the general manager to decide.”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

“Yes?”

“I mean, is that all?”

“What do you mean?”

“Was there no talk of adding another left-handed pitcher and proceeding?”

“Ah. For now, what we have agreed on so far is this.”

“Hmm, really? Then I need to think about it a little more.”

Park Young-no crossed his arms and let out a deep sigh.

By now, they should have finished talking over there.

In the meantime, I checked my smartphone to see if there were any messages.

Okay.

The message I wanted had arrived.

“Then shall we talk about the rest of the story right now?”

“Now?”

I raised the corners of my mouth towards Park Young-no and pressed the call button.

The phone connected before the dial tone rang a few times.

“Team Leader, how did it go over there?”

-Yeah. I’ve delivered the contents. They’re thinking about it for a moment.

“I’m with General Manager Park, so let’s all talk together.”

I switched the call to speakerphone and put my smartphone on the table.

“Who are you talking to now?”

Park Young-no asked, tilting his head.

“Team Leader Kim Min-hwan from our company was meeting with General Manager Jo Jae-won of the Angels. I talked about the part that General Manager Park wanted, but General Manager Jo Jae-won’s reaction wasn’t negative. Can’t we find a solution if we talk directly?”

“Huh, hahaha.”

Park Young-no looked at me and burst out laughing.

Then he pulled his body to the table and continued the call.

-General Manager Park. This is Jo Jae-won from the Angels.

“Oh, yeah. General Manager Jo, it’s been a while.”

-I’ve heard the story. Let’s lay down Jang Su-young and Ji Young-wook as the basics and match the rest of the cards.”

“We need to reinforce our left-handed pitcher, too.”

The call that started like that lasted for more than an hour.

They stopped the call in the middle and took time to organize their thoughts.

There was a crisis where the negotiations could have broken down.

Each time, I and Kim Min-hwan appropriately coordinated opinions and overcame the crisis.

Every minute and every second felt like walking on thin ice.

* * *

As soon as I came out of the general manager’s office, I headed straight to the stadium.

I wrote a text message while walking as if running.

I first informed Lee Soo-min of the trade.

However, I also told him to post the article after the trade was definitely processed administratively.

After sending the text message, I started running in earnest.

By now, Jang Su-young was probably preparing for the game on the ground as usual.

“Hah. Hah. Hah.”

I ran at a speed that made me pant so hard that I could quickly enter the ground.

It wasn’t yet time for full-fledged team training, so I couldn’t find the players gathered together.

“Where is he?”

I constantly looked around and called Jang Su-young.

-The customer is not answering the phone…

“Why doesn’t he answer only at times like this?”

I think he would have arrived and be working out.

I had no choice but to go around and find him myself.

“Hello, have you seen Jang Su-young?”

“Jang Su-young? He went to the sauna a while ago.”

“Sauna? Thank you.”

I ran straight to the sauna.

‘Should I go inside the sauna and tell him quickly?’

Fortunately, I didn’t have to.

When I arrived, Jang Su-young was already outside.

“Su-young!”

“Oh, senior?”

Jang Su-young looked at me, smiled happily, and approached me.

“Pack your bags and come out right now. We have to move right away.”

“Yes?”

“They’re going to put you in the lineup starting today.”

Jang Su-young’s puzzled expression turned into conviction.

“Senior, could it be?”

“You’re thinking right.”

I smiled brightly and nodded.

“Oh… I was preparing, but it’s so sudden.”

Jang Su-young was not moving as if he was frozen.

And he raised his head slightly as if some unknown emotion was rising.

I approached Jang Su-young and patted him on the shoulder.

Jang Su-young’s eyes were soon wet as if he was about to shed tears.

It was understandable since he had to suddenly leave the club where he had been for 7 years since his debut.

“I’ll pack quickly and come out.”

“Okay.”

Jang Su-young went into the locker room.

I could hear him saying hello to several fellow players.

How much time has passed?

Jang Su-young, who had a short farewell, came out with a large bag.

“Shall we go now?”

“Yes, let’s go.”

I shared the luggage with Jang Su-young and walked out of the stadium.

I walked while looking at the photos of the Wolves’ championship moments and the retired legendary players.

I arrived at the parking lot, loaded my luggage, and was about to get in the car.

“Senior, just a moment. Can we go a little later?”

“What’s wrong? We don’t have much time.”

“No matter how urgent it is, I think I should say goodbye to the manager separately.”

“Ah, the manager? You should. Go and come back. I’ll be waiting.”

Jang Su-young put down his luggage and ran quickly to the stadium.

I had no choice but to wait.

Even though it was a trade that was discussed with the player in advance, a sudden farewell to a familiar place could not have been easy.

After a while, Jang Su-young, whose eyes were red, got into the car, and then we could leave.