HOT STOVE LEAGUE

The perennial last-place professional baseball team, the "Dreams." Team morale was at rock bottom, but Se-yong, the operations team leader, was working tirelessly, driven solely by the desire to make the team stronger. Amidst this, the Dreams announced that their GM was resigning to take responsibility for the last-place finish, and they began searching for a new GM. ©SBS

The team was rocked when Sun-su announced he would trade Dong-gyu, the star player of the Dreams, and Se-yong couldn't accept it either. Unable to tolerate the idea of being traded himself, Dong-gyu confronts Sun-soo. Despite this, Sun-soo approaches the Vikings about a trade involving Dong-gyu. ©SBS

Dreams acquire powerhouse pitcher Tugi in a trade with Donggyu. Meanwhile, Sunsu believes the scouting team is at fault for failing to secure promising rookies despite holding a first-round draft pick. To uncover the truth behind an incident from the previous year's draft, Sunsu travels to meet regional scout Wonsop. ©SBS

Sun-soo witnessed Won-sup accepting money from the mother of a high school baseball player. Meanwhile, Se-yong went to meet the mother of a Vikings player who won Rookie of the Year and asked if she knew Se-hyuk from the scouting team, but the mother sent him away. Amidst this, it was discovered that Se-hyuk had been accepting bribes from players. ©SBS

Sun-soo and his team traveled to the U.S. to sign foreign players, but were told the signing bonus for Miles, the pitcher they targeted, had doubled, leaving them perplexed. Then the Pelicans' former GM appeared, and Sun-soo, now at a disadvantage, began contract negotiations with Miles. Ultimately, unable to secure the deal, Sun-soo returns home. ©SBS

Chang-joo, who had given up on returning to Korea after evading military service, decides to join Dreams at Sun-soo's invitation. However, society viewed him harshly. Meanwhile, Dreams decided to recruit a strategic analyst for their analysis team. Then, Sun-su's younger brother, Yeon-su, appeared at the interview venue. ©SBS

Sunsung was pressured by Kyungmin to cut player salaries by 30%. Hearing this, Se-yong found it utterly unacceptable. When staff members objected to dismissing players to cut labor costs, Sun-soo announced he would renegotiate contracts with every player. When the salary negotiations began, Se-hyuk appeared alongside the players as their agent. ©SBS

Players who heard rumors that Sun-soo was contacting other teams' GMs to trade players whose negotiations were stalling became terrified they might be the ones traded. Shortly after negotiations with the players concluded, news broke that Sun-soo had voluntarily given up his salary. Rumors spread that the owner company, the Jeong Group, was facing financial difficulties. ©SBS

Dreams suddenly announced Sunsu's resignation. Unconvinced, Se-yong protested to Kyung-min and was unexpectedly appointed interim GM. Meanwhile, coaches heard the strategy for the secondary draft from Yeon-su, now part of the scouting team, and their dissatisfaction erupted. ©SBS

Sun-soo returns as GM of the Dreams, but his re-signing contract stipulated he would resign at the start of the season. Amidst this, players protest coaches instructing them during voluntary training, and the players' association also voices opposition. ©SBS

Chairman Il-do of the parent company ordered Kyung-min to dissolve the team quickly, so Kyung-min pressured Sun-soo to cancel the overseas training camp. Forced to hold camp domestically, the Dreams rush to select a location. Furthermore, Sun-soo decides to bring back the staff from their runner-up season to strengthen the team. ©SBS

The Dreams are set to play an exhibition game against the Vikings at their training camp. As the long-standing rivals Tugi and Donggyu prepare to face off, tension fills the ballpark. As the game progresses, young pitcher Minho takes the mound. ©SBS

Amid chaos within the team caused by Kyung-min's tyranny after becoming president of the Dreams, Jae-hee, who stood up to Kyung-min, is transferred to the scouting team. Meanwhile, rumors spread that a player is using banned substances, sending shockwaves through the baseball world. ©SBS

Sung-soo decides to bring Dong-gyu back to the Dreams after he confessed to illegal gambling and was suspended for half the season. While Sung-soo approached Vikings GM Kim about a trade, Se-yeon was also persuading the team staff. After gaining the staff's understanding, Sun-soo heads to negotiate with the Vikings, only to find Pelicans GM Oh waiting there. ©SBS

Se-yong couldn't stay silent after learning that Director Yun had approved Gyung-min's sudden announcement of Tugi's trade. Sun-su felt his own powerlessness acutely, unable to protect the players. When Sun-soo declared winning the championship was impossible, Se-yong vowed not to give up. ©SBS

Kyung-min held a press conference to announce the dissolution of Dreams. However, Sun-soo pleaded with Kyung-min for time to sell the team. Having secured a week's grace period, Sun-su sets his sights on PF, the portal site operator, as a potential buyer. He immediately heads for negotiations, but PF's president shows a negative attitude toward the acquisition. ©SBS