Chapter 9

­ Live Pitching (3)

“Gun’s pitch reached 151km?”

“He also passed the live pitching session . I think his talent is good enough for the Korean national league”

Chief leader let out a smile after hearing the scout manager’s report .

“then try to scout him in . if we are lucky, his story may become ‘the next big news’”

Nam Hyun, the scout manager, was a bit hesitant in taking the chief leader’s order .

“hm… well…”

“why, is there a problem?”

“Player Gun, he himself has let others know that he strives to play in the major league… it’ll cost a fortune to get him in”

“well isn’t it your job to negotiate and make compromises on both ends to make it work? We don’t pay you a high salary for no reason . Gun’s not even from the major league, he’s from the minor league . Shouldn’t this be a breeze to work out?”

Nam Hyun let out a sigh and simply nodded .

‘yeah… got to do as I’m told… that’s why I get paid’

The salary cap given to him for Gun was $350,000 .

It was a rate that a rookie straight out of high school would be willing to accept .

But Gun was no rookie, he was a 25-year old star dark horse pitcher dreaming of the major league entrance .

There was no way that Gun would accept this offer .

“this is going to be very tough…”

Nam Hyun let out another deep sigh as he left the office .

Nam Hyun stood at Gun’s doorsteps .

Gun lived in an old apartment located in a newly developed area in Seoul .

It was an apartment that Gun bought from the money he received from entering the contract with his agent 7 years ago .

The planned venue for the meeting was a café located not far away .

The reason Nam Hyun travelled all this way was to get a brief insight of the player’s personal life .

‘seems as though he’s not doing too well financially… I might have a chance if I talk this out well’

Nam Hyun was planning to offer an unusual deal, such as an upfront, one lump sum payment, in order to make the offer more desirable .

Half an hour later, Nam Hyun met up with Gun at the café .

“Player Gun! You look fabulous . ”

“Thank you! It’s all because AT telecom has taken good care of me!”

Gun had a general idea of why Nam Hyun had approached him .

But he tried to hide this knowledge as much as possible .

Judging from Gun’s rather positive responses, Nam Hyun decided to be advance hastily with the offer .

“Player Gun, I’ll be very straight forward here . Would you be interested in continuing your career with us, AT telecom, at all?”

Gun lowered his tone and replied .

“I will surely never forget the grace and care you’ve shared with me in a number of different occasions . I will never forget it . But, my heart still belongs in the major league”

Nam Hyun was almost expecting to hear this instant rejection . But as the scout leader, he could not back down here .

“Player Gun, please do not take any offence in what I am about to say . I mean no disrespect . But let’s get real . Next year, you are turning 26 . How long are you going to stay in the minor league, getting paid petty sum? You need to think about your family too . ”

Instead of frowning, Gun let out a small smirk .

“It’s because of that age that I cannot give up the major league”

“because of the age? What do you mean? If you let your 20s pass like this, you won’t get another opportunity in your 30s . Take this as your last chance . ”

Gun returned a question back at Nam Hyun,

“What would happen if I join the national professional major league? Will I even get a chance of becoming an FA (free agent)?”

In the professional baseball league, the requirement of an FA was 9 seasons of career .

Even if Gun started right away next year, he could only get his FA qualification when he is 35 .

Nam Hyun could not say anything else .

‘he’s absolutely right… there’s nothing else I can do about this’

After re-organising his thoughts, Nam Hyun continued the conversation .

“Player Gun, this isn’t all about becoming a FA . You need to think of your career . If you come back to the national league in your 30s, no team will accept you . But right now as of this moment, the story is entirely different . You can easily get six-digit salaries and contract deals . It helps the family RIGHT NOW . Do you understand?”

How would Gun not know that?

However, the fear of failure was not going to stop his dream journey towards the major league .

As if testing the waters, Gun asked Nam Hyun,

“if I was to stay in Korea, how much would the down payment be?”

It was a question out of pure curiosity .

Gulp .

Nam Hyun let down a dry gulp .

This was the difficult part . Money .

“I can give you $300,000 in cash”

$300,000 was not a small sum . It was what an average businessman with the average salary of $30,000 could make in 10 years .

But it wasn’t a sum big enough to weigh down Gun’s dream of the major league .

“… . ”

“Player Gun, $300,000 is not a small amount . It’s an amount offered to only 1st round draft picks”

Gun dropped his head .

“that’d be tough”

Nam Hyun offered his maximum amount .

“I will give you $350,000 . I will also think of clearing away the tax . ”

It was true that Gun’s been facing a financial downfall in the recent days, but it wasn’t so critical that he needed urgent cash .

Gun proposed a higher agreement as a means to reject Nam Hyun’s offer .

“I’m not saying this because I play for money . I’m sure you are already aware, but professional players have a high sense of pride . I would have to get at least as much as Player Woo Chul Park who returned to Korea from the major league 5 years ago”

Woo Chul Park had 7 wins as a left handed pitcher in the major league and when he returned to the national league, he was offered a down payment of $800,000”

‘a player who hasn’t even entered the major league is offering such an amount… this negotiation is over”

However, Nam Hyun already knew before that $350,000 would not be enough .

“Player Gun, I will go back and have a talk with the chief leader”

“Can I add one last thing?”

Nam Hyun raised his eyebrows .

“yes?”

“In December, Arizona, there will be a show case . If I still haven’t found a decent team by then…”

“then you’d come back?”

“I’d presume so”

Nam Hyun’s face brightened .

“okay . If you do ever return to the national league, then I may be able to give you an offer at around half, if not higher, of Woo Chul Park’s contract”

Park’s down payment was $800,000, so half of that is $400,000 . This meant that Nam Hyun is promising a contract worth around $450,000 – $500,000 .

However, it still didn’t change the fact that a contract with AT telecom was towards the more undesirable options in Gun’s mind .

His goal was the major league, and in order to achieve that, he was willing to accept AAA or AA contracts .

However, if he failed to acquire a AA contract, then he would be left with no other option but to return to the national league .

Gun’s age didn’t allow him to participate in the rookie or A league .

He let out a deep sigh as he exited the café .

‘hmph… am I getting old? Back in the days, I would’ve rejected meetings like this upfront . I was so determined to avenge Thompson, filled with passion . But here I am now, considering a national league debut… . ’

Unlike the old days, Gun was thinking to himself that he was making compromises with the world, and his dream .