Salary Negotiation Standoff
December arrived, the time for salary negotiations, just as I was in the middle of rehab training. That's when I got a call from the team. They wanted to discuss my salary. I headed to the team building at the appointed time and arrived at a cramped conference room with a worn wooden table.
Ah... it's been a while since I've been here. It was a place I hadn't visited in ages. Glancing around briefly, memories flooded back vividly. It was right in this room that I'd signed my first pro contract. Everything had felt so unfamiliar back then, but I remembered the joy of actually getting a pro deal.
One year later... like this...
A moment later, the Turkeys' operations team leader walked in. After a light greeting, he got straight to the point and slid the salary contract across the table without preamble. I naturally took the paper and checked the numbers first. The amount in the salary field was 90 million won.
For a split second, my breath caught. Whoa... Considering my previous salary had been 30 million won, this was a big jump.
"A 300% raise. Congratulations," the team leader said with a bright smile. "It's the team's principle to reward players who've shown strong results with a solid contract like this."
I could feel the genuine congratulations. I nodded and looked down at the contract again. Stolen base king, runs king, over .300 batting average. And Rookie of the Year to top it off. Scenes from last season flashed through my mind in quick succession. I'd started with the lowest signing bonus and salary as an 11th-round pick, but to think I'd be getting a decent amount just one year later...
I unconsciously reached for the pen to sign. But my hand stopped.
No, wait a minute. A nagging feeling in the corner of my mind kept signaling something off. Was this really a fair valuation from our notoriously frugal team?
I looked up at the team leader and cautiously opened my mouth. "Hold on a sec. I was runs king and stolen base king, hit over .300... and I've got pretty good popularity too. Is 90 million really right?"
The team leader smiled as if he'd prepared for that response. "Player Kim Hu-seong will receive the highest salary among second-year players. It's the best treatment the team can offer."
He explained that they'd put a lot of thought into it and that internally, this was considered generous. "We normally don't disclose contract details, but even first-round peer Lee Tae-sin won't get this much."
Even Tae-sin...? Lee Tae-sin had been a first-round pick with a signing bonus over 100 million. But now he was below me? I nodded, but my mind wouldn't settle. Still, the feeling wasn't good. After a moment of silence, I said, "Hmm... could you bump it up just a bit more?"
I stood up without signing. I noticed the team leader's expression stiffen briefly.
"We'll be in touch again, Player Kim Hu-seong."
Leaving the team office, I headed straight to the first-team training field. I wanted to talk to someone about this. But with the season over, the atmosphere was quiet, and there were only a handful of players doing voluntary training.
Scanning the running track, I spotted a familiar back. Fortunately, Senior Son Tae-ho was out checking his daily condition. I walked over naturally.
"What, skipping finishing camp to live the sweet life, Kim Hu-seong?" Senior Son Tae-ho smirked as soon as he saw me.
"Yeah, sucking on the sweet honey so much I've packed on the pounds."
"But why're you here? Salary negotiation?"
I hesitated for a second before being honest. "I went for it... but just walked out."
His movements froze at my words. "What?"
Senior Son Tae-ho turned to look at me properly. "How much did they offer?"
"90 million won."
His face hardened instantly. The playful expression from moments ago vanished, replaced by a deep frown. He thought for a bit, then spoke in a low voice. "Well... 90 million for a second-year isn't that low, technically."
He took a breath and continued. "But considering your performance, it's way short."
"So what do you think would be fair?"
"Realistically, you could've pushed for 120 million. Our team's on the stingy side, after all."
...Stingy at 120 million? Seeing my expression darken rapidly, Senior Son Tae-ho gave a wry smile.
"If we were a popular provincial team, they might've given you 140 million as the top second-year salary... or even over 150 million to set a record. That's how impressive your season was."
Something inside me twisted tight at those words.
"Honestly, we've adopted a lot of major league style meritocracy, right? Everyone knows that, so offering you that amount feels a bit outrageous."
Senior Son Tae-ho looked at me for a moment before adding, "They probably didn't go over 100 million because of the injury—they factored that in."
I ground my teeth. Grind.
"Did the team really check that far?"
He nodded without hesitation. "Absolutely."
"Haa... so should I be grateful they gave me that much?"
I let out a small sigh. My head was a mess, and my chest felt tight.
"Nah. But the team is mindful of the fans' eyes. They figured they'd get some flak under 100 million, but thought you'd take it anyway since it's palatable enough. They probably assumed you'd sign."
Whoa... they went that far?
Senior Son Tae-ho asked cautiously. "How's the injury?"
I dropped my gaze to the ground for a moment before answering honestly. "...I don't think I can run like before."
"Ugh..."
His eyes flickered subtly. "I tested it out... the top speed difference isn't huge. The problem is... I can't burst out like I used to at the start."
The air grew heavy after those words. Senior Son Tae-ho's face slowly hardened.
"Uh... that's pretty critical, huh?"
I nodded slightly without a word.
"I'll look for ways to help somehow. Manage your body and hang in there."
He patted my shoulder. "And... sign at the next negotiation unless you have to. It's regrettable, but the team holds the power. They rarely adjust in the player's favor... and taking a year off isn't great either."
"Yeah..."
The Gocheok Turkeys conference room was thick with tension. Papers were scattered on the table, and the mood was far from light.
"How are we handling this?"
The Turkeys GM's gaze turned to the operations team leader.
Word that Kim Hu-seong's salary negotiation hadn't gone smoothly had spread online.
The news that Kim Hu-seong, the Turkeys' top popularity star of 2023, had failed in salary negotiations was enough to set the team office ablaze. Not just Turkeys fans but fans from other teams couldn't understand it, unleashing a torrent of criticism. Facing the fierce backlash, they'd called this meeting to decide on a response.
"Haa... damn... this is..."
The operations team leader trailed off with a complicated expression, and the GM, arms crossed, sighed before speaking. "Can't we... work something out? Is it that tough?"
His voice was low, but anyone could hear the barely contained anger.
"Kim Hu-seong's injury is more serious than expected. For a player whose legs are his life, the knee issue means he won't hit top speed—that's the medical report. High chance he won't perform next year. Honestly, he might end up on the release list. That's why we can't offer more."
The team leader averted his gaze briefly before adding cautiously. "Still, it wasn't worth this much hate. We should've sweet-talked him better. Why'd it blow up? Got a plan?"
Understanding, the GM scowled. "Can we max out the incentives then?"
"Incentives?"
"Yeah. Load up on incentives, and we can settle it easily. Big plus is dropping the base to around 80 million. Add reasonable incentives for 20 million. Then toss in basically impossible ones worth 100 million to make it look like a max 200 million deal. Solves the money issue."
"120 million in incentives? If he hits them by mistake, that's too much payout."
"Given his injury, even 'reasonable' ones will be tough. I think so."
The team leader spoke with conviction. "But too many incentives could backfire. People might see it negatively?"
"On the contrary, the performance-based system looks transparent. Fans will assume reasonable incentives were attached. It'll soften the 'stingy team' image. And once the season starts, it's on the player, right? I see this as the best option."
The GM pondered, drumming his fingers on the table. He soon looked up. "Not bad. Proceed with that."