Chapter 325 – Episode 317. 2024 Stove League. (2)

“Well, the players’ salaries have been resolved, and the problem is free agency… Team leader Cheon?”

A few days after Ji Maeng-ho’s salary negotiations ended, almost all players on the AT Thunders team had their salaries negotiated, and now only big contracts remained. A major contract in a baseball team is a free agent contract. And in this free agent market, a large listing expected to fetch the highest amount of all time, Hancheol Grizzlies catcher Lee Yong-ki, has appeared.

“Don’t worry about the budget. “The president was really happy with this win.”

“Also…”

The faces of the people gathered in the conference room brightened when Soyoung said that she was not worried about money.

“But will we be able to catch Lee Yong-gi in Hancheol? “If it were the same price, I would probably try to play for Hancheol.”

“Still, Hancheol’s situation is not good these days, and we also have Seoul Premium, so we’ll probably have enough money to catch users.”

“It would be perfect if we could recruit Lee Yong-man.”

AT’s batting line in 2023 could easily be called a nuclear batting line, but its weak point was the catcher position. Starting catcher Jeong Yun-cheol’s performance in 2023 is a batting average of 0.258, 10 home runs, and an OPS of 0.714 in 110 games. He didn’t have bad grades, but he didn’t have good grades either.

In contrast, Lee Yong-gi’s performance this season was 3rd in batting at 0.361, 22 home runs, 101 RBI, and an OPS of 1.017, breaking his career high again. In addition, not only his batting performance but also his stability in defense was such that he could confidently be said to be the best in the country, so it was not unreasonable for AT Thunders leaders to want to recruit Lee Yong-gi.

No, it wasn’t just AT. Lee Yong-gi was currently wanted by all 10 KBA clubs. Therefore, from the perspective of the AT Thunders, who are aiming for a repeat after winning the championship in 2023, the player they really wanted to recruit was Lee Yong-gi. If the Hwasan Falcons and NV Rex, who ranked 9th and 10th this season, recruit Lee Yong-gi, Lee Yong-gi is a player who could immediately become a championship contending team.

This Stove League could easily be called the ‘Lee Yong-gi League’, so everyone sitting in this conference room was doing their best to recruit Lee Yong-gi.

“Hmm… But if Lee Yong-gi comes, the salary cap will become a problem, right?”

“Then Kim Joo-yeop…”

“… There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“Actually, aren’t there many players who can replace Kim Joo-yeop?”

After someone said that there were many players who could replace Kim Joo-yeop, silence fell again in the conference room. And that was true to some extent. Even when AT was struggling in the dark ages, several high-quality outfielders, led by Woo Kwan-hyung, made their debuts, and the outfield farm was still overflowing, so there was no need to focus on free agent Kim Joo-yeop.

“The amount requested by Kim Joo-yeop’s agent is 5.7 billion won over 6 years.”

“Download of 1.5 billion won and annual salary of 600 million won… “No matter how much we won, we can’t use Kim Joo-yeop for 600 million won.”

Kim Joo-yeop’s performance this year broke his career high by recording 141 hits, 4 home runs, and 101 runs with a ratio of 0.320/0.396/0.401/0.797. However, even though he was a center fielder, his performance was not worthy of an annual salary of 600 million won, and he was not a fielder with the best defensive ability in the league, so from AT’s perspective, they had no choice but to be skeptical about catching Kim Joo-yeop.

“Kim Joo-yeop…”

At that time, Soyoung, who was listening to the story, opened her mouth. Then, the eyes of everyone gathered in the conference room focused on Soyoung’s mouth. In the end, everyone knew that the decision came from Soyoung’s mouth.

“He’s a good player. However, there are many good outfielders in our farm as well. The same goes for Baek Jeong-jin right now.”

“That’s right. Baek Jeong-jin. He also showed good performance this postseason.”

“There’s Jeong Hwi-cheol in the second team. “I know that player is also receiving good reviews on the field.”

“Yes. I like Hwicheol. As for defense, there will be no problem even if he joins the first team right away. Even in the Futures League, he hit in the mid-.300 range. In my personal opinion, it would be good if I converted to a full-time player right away.”

“Then there is only one answer. “In this FA market, let’s focus on Lee Yong-gi.”

“Hmm… “Of course.”

“Captain, then do you think we can catch Lee Yong-gi?

“I’m still talking to my agent. Down payment of 8 billion won, 2 billion won over 4 years, 16 billion won, option 2 billion won. A total of 18 billion.”

“18 billion…”

A ridiculous contract worth 4 years and 18 billion won. It was an even more surprising proposal when compared to the 6-year contract worth 15 billion won by Ki Ki-joo, who played in the major leagues. Lee Yong-gi’s agent also said that they were in a superior position, although Lee Yong-gi was younger than Ki Ki-joo and had the advantage of being a catcher.

“Well, no club will give it to you as is. However, since it will be around that level, Hancheol will not be able to renew the contract.”

“Then, as Team Leader Cheon said, I will consider Lee Yong-gi as the top priority and negotiate.”

“Yes, if necessary, we will consider sanctions.”

“Then today’s meeting ends here.”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

The meeting ended like that, and Soyoung returned to her office. However, even though the meeting was over, concerns continued.

‘If we only recruit Lee Yong-gi, building an empire will not be a dream until Meng Hao leaves.’

Soyoung’s goal is not simply to win one championship, but to build an empire that will leave its mark in Korean baseball history like the Yankees, who won five consecutive Major League titles, or Real Madrid, who established themselves as a symbol of soccer by winning five consecutive Champions League titles. For that goal, catcher Lee Yong-gi was a piece that one did not want to miss.

Of course, it seemed like a 5-game losing streak would be possible with just Ji Maeng-ho, but unfortunately, there wasn’t much time left for AT and Ji Maeng-ho to be together.

“Measures to improve the posting system…”

This is because of the plan to improve the posting system, which was an agenda item from the last KBA board meeting. The improvement plan was simple. The main point was to change the posting period to 4 seasons instead of the existing 7 seasons. And Soyoung, the de facto owner of AT Thunders, also knew about it for a long time.

In fact, changing this system was something the governor had been thinking about for a long time. It was common for promising players who would lead Korean baseball in the future to move to the United States for any reason, whether for their dreams or because they thought they would be selected by a weak team, and most of the prospects failed in the minor leagues without being able to develop their talents. And as talented prospects from Korea continued to move to the United States, it had an impact on the league.

However, there was no way the clubs would let go of the player easily, and it was an improvement plan that everyone opposed. But now, an unprecedented ecological destruction species has appeared in the league, and all other clubs except AT have agreed to this improvement plan. To send Ji Maeng-ho to the majors as soon as possible.

Of course, Soyoung would have been furious and opposed if Meng Ho’s performance had been recorded by another rookie player, but it was Meng Ho who achieved those results, and Soyoung accepted the improvement plan because she did not want to interfere with Meng Ho’s future.

“With 4 seasons, it’s now 3 years. We need to create a strong team that can win even without Mengho. For that to happen, recruiting Lee Yong-gi is essential.”

Therefore, we had to prepare for when Meng Hao was not present.

18 billion won is invested in one player. It was a burdensome amount from the perspective of running a club, but Lee Yong-gi was a player worth it. A catcher with top-class defense and BQ in the league and a hitting ability that is unrivaled by other hitters could have changed the fate of the team.

“Well, my grandfather is also happy about winning, so I’m sure he’ll understand.”

It was a large enough amount that even So-young, who loved baseball, was thinking of asking his grandfather, Chairman Cheon, for permission, but he was somewhat confident in recruiting Lee Yong-gi. Seoul Premium, which uses Seoul as its home, and the previous season’s winning team premium. And he satisfied the conditions of being a large company that could spend that much money on baseball.

Soyoung waited for negotiations with Lee Yong-gi, thinking about creating a new empire in the KBA league, and her expectations were dashed in an instant.

-Volcanic Falcons! Recruit Lee Yong-gi! 4 years and 18 billion won!

-The highest amount ever in the KBA League! 18 billion without user option!

-FA’s biggest fish, Lee Yong-gi, goes to Daejeon. ‘Jackpot!’

Lee Yong-gi, who was said to be the biggest fish in this free agency market, eventually decided to go to Daejeon. Lee Yong-gi, who recorded the best defense and batting in the league, signed with the Hwasan Falcons for 4 years and 18 billion won (8 billion won in down payment, 2.5 billion won in annual salary). …

Meanwhile, Lee Yong-gi expressed his ambition, saying, ‘I will aim for the championship with the returning Seonghyun senior.’ …

Wow, I think I’m really going to go to fall baseball this seasonㄷㄷㄷ

Recruiting Lee Yong-gi is crazy!!!!

ㄴIt seems like Hwasan also made money because AT definitely spent money and won.

Contrary to Soyoung’s expectations, Hwasan Falcons succeeded in recruiting Lee Yong-gi by guaranteeing 18 billion won without an option. With the return of Seonghyun, the Hwasan Falcons, who were aiming for the KBA league championship, also knew the importance of Lee Yong-gi and recruited Lee Yong-gi to win the championship.

And Hwasa’s free agent recruitment, which began to raise money, did not end here.

-Hwasan Falcons Kim Joo-yeop recruited! 6 years and 6.4 billion won! Outfield reinforcement!

… We succeeded in reinforcing the unstable center line by recruiting Kim Joo-yeop, who played as the AT Thunders’ number one hitter this season…

Wow, this season is really different

ㄴThe starters are Seonghyeon, Chae Jaehyun, and Kim Minjun, as well as two mercenaries. In addition, the signing of two free agents, Choi Si-woo, and closer Shin Su-ho… This season has been crazy haha

*

“Then, this Golden Gloves Awards ceremony will end here.”

Clap clap clap!

After the host’s speech, applause fills the hall. It is no exaggeration to say that I received the Golden Glove this season as expected, and this season ended with me receiving all the awards I could receive by winning the Golden Glove as a second baseman.

In AT, except for Jeong Yun-cheol, all fielders were nominated for the Golden Glove, and among them, 4 people including Choi Jin-cheol, Gi Ki-joo, Kim Su-ho, and myself won the Golden Glove, succeeding in producing winners worthy of the winning team.

“Meng Hao, congratulations.”

“Congratulations. A fierce player!”

On the way out of the awards ceremony holding a bouquet of flowers, I saw Lee Yong-gi. And when the topic of baseball came up on a trip I went on with the girls a few days ago, I remembered Soyoung getting upset a few times about not being able to recruit Lee Yong-gi.

‘Now that I think about it, why didn’t that guy join our team? There is no better place to play baseball than the AT.’

There were a lot of pretty female fans, and as a rookie, they didn’t really touch me, and most importantly, AT was the team I was on. A smart person like Lee Yong-gi would know that it won’t be easy to win the championship for the next few years as long as I’m on our team, so I was curious why I went to Hwasan, the last-place team.

“Courage hyung!”

“Oh, Meng Hao.”

“Congratulations on your goal.”

“Well, I kind of knew what I would get. Hey, but is that interview you gave Hyun-hyung real? Anyway, you bastards say it’s too much. By the way, why haven’t I been able to contact you for a while?”

How many times do I get this question today? Since I was too lazy to talk anymore, I answered simply.

“Yes, it’s true?”

And the reason I didn’t hear back was simple. After the season ended, I didn’t have time to keep in touch with my girls because I was traveling around here and there, including overseas. Of course, even if I had time, there was no reason to receive calls from men.

“I knew so…, What? “Is it real?”

“Bro, more than that, why did you go to the volcano? Take the AT. Our team also wants to recruit you.”

Lee Yong-gi looked dumbfounded, and taking advantage of the silence, I immediately asked what I was curious about.

“Hey.”

In response to my question, Lee Yong-gi smiled as if it was fun and called me.

“Yes?”

“What fun would it be if I ran with you and won? I will beat you and win at Volcano. Let’s have the same team only in the national team.”

“What is that…”

“If it’s too easy, it’s no fun, right? Did I say it was boring? “This season won’t be boring.”

“Brother! Brother!? What, isn’t it just nice to win?”

Like that, Lee Yong-gi left behind words that were difficult to understand and walked forward.