“It’s a business.”
It’s a phrase habitually uttered by players whenever they encounter the bloodless world of the Major League Baseball transfer market.
Bae Ji-hwan of the Pittsburgh Pirates is no different.
Bae’s former teammate, Choi Ji-Man,온라인카지노 was traded to San Diego. Photo via AFPBBNews = News1
“A lot of veterans went out and a lot of new guys came in, so it’s not like I’m not used to it,” Bae told MK Sports ahead of the team’s home game against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 23 June.
While he was out with an ankle injury, Pittsburgh made some big changes at the trade deadline.
Veterans like Carlos Santana, Ji-Man Choi, and Rich Hill left the team via trade, and younger players took their place. It’s hard for a team whose chances of making the postseason have diminished to avoid.
For Bae, the departure of fellow Korean player Choi Ji-Man was particularly disappointing. “I feel bad for Ji Man and Hill, but it’s business,” he said bluntly.
The fact that this isn’t his first time playing alongside a Korean player helps ease the disappointment. “Compared to other players, I’ve played with a lot of Korean seniors, like (Park) Hyo-Jun Lee and (Kang) Jung Ho-Hyung. I wonder if it will be the same this time,” he said.
He did not hide his disappointment in Rodolfo Castro, who left for the Philadelphia Phillies in a one-for-one trade for Bailey Palmer.
“We’ve been together since Low-A,” said Bae, who posted a number of photos on Instagram shortly after Castro’s departure. We’ve been playing together for a long time, so we got to know each other a lot,” Bae said of the departure of his favourite player.
“He’s a young player, but I think he was traded because we have a lot of infielders and there are not many spots. It’s good for his career,” he said, wishing his former teammate the best.
Not everyone left. As rumoured at one point, the team’s leading hitter, Andrew McCutchen, stayed in Pittsburgh. Bae welcomed his retention, saying, “It’s good to have him here.”
Rodolfo Castro (second from right) has been with Bae since Single-A. Photo via AFPBBNews = News1
He’s gone, and he’s staying. There’s nothing you can do about it. The only thing you can do is swallow your disappointment and say, ‘In the end, it’s business.
Bae Ji-hwan also said, “I feel like I’m in denial. Even if other seniors say they are disappointed, they just say, ‘It’s business,’ and end up blaming it. I’m getting used to it,” he laughed.
Bae, who has returned from an ankle injury, has played well in the last three games against Minnesota, going 3-for-11 with one home run, one RBI, three walks and three strikeouts. He will start again tonight after a day of rest.
“To be honest, I’m not in the best shape,” he said, adding that he’s playing through some lingering issues. “I have to do what I have to do to survive,” he said, vowing to continue his efforts with six weeks left in the season.