The Chicago White Sox just made their boldest move of this rebuild. They landed Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami on a two-year deal that could shake up both their lineup and their future plans.
This isn’t just another international signing. The Sox are betting that one of Nippon Professional Baseball’s top power hitters can become the franchise cornerstone on the South Side.
White Sox Land Japan’s Most Explosive Bat Since Ohtani
The White Sox signed 26-year-old infielder Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34 million contract. They’ll also pay a $6.575 million posting fee to the Yakult Swallows.
Excel Sports Management represents Murakami, and the team will introduce him formally at a press conference. ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the agreement.
Front offices have seen Murakami as the most anticipated NPB hitter to come stateside since Shohei Ohtani. The franchise has been stuck in 100-loss territory, but now they’ve added a player whose power could really shake up the AL Central in the coming years.
A Historic Track Record in Japan
Murakami doesn’t arrive as some mystery. His numbers in Japan are almost absurd.
At just 22, he broke the NPB single-season home run record for a Japanese-born player, launching 56 homers and cementing himself as a generational slugger. He also starred for Samurai Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, raising his profile even more on the global stage.
Over 892 Central League games, Murakami has put up a career line of .270/.394/.557. He shows a rare mix of patience and raw power for his age.
Scouts regularly slap an 80-grade power tag on his bat—the highest possible. That means his pop stacks up with the best sluggers anywhere.
A Short-Term Deal with Massive Long-Term Upside
Heading into the offseason, Murakami ranked No. 4 on MLB Trade Rumors’ Top 50 free agents. Many expected an eight-year, $180 million deal, but that’s not what happened.
Some teams reportedly offered multi-year, lower-AAV deals, unsure how his bat would translate against MLB pitching. Murakami chose a different route—one with more flexibility and control over his future.
Betting on Himself in Chicago
By signing a two-year, high-AAV contract, Murakami is betting on himself. If he adjusts quickly and puts up big numbers, he’ll hit the market again ahead of his age-28 season, still in his prime and ready for a huge payday.
The White Sox like this structure too. They get a premium bat without a decade-long commitment, so they keep payroll flexibility and still show fans they’re serious about moving forward.
A Soft Landing Spot on the South Side
Fit really matters, especially for a star jumping from Japan to MLB. Chicago actually gives Murakami a pretty soft landing spot.
The White Sox just suffered through multiple 100-loss seasons. There’s not the relentless pressure of a big-market contender here, and that low-pressure environment could help Murakami adjust and grow without every slump turning into a crisis.
From Third Base to First: Maximizing the Bat
Murakami played third base in NPB, but the White Sox plan to move him to first base. This isn’t random—it’s strategic.
First base comes with less physical and mental demand, letting him focus on what Chicago needs most: his bat. If he holds his own defensively and the power shows up fast, the Sox might have finally filled a premium offensive spot with a legit middle-of-the-order threat.
Murakami and the Core of the Next Contender
Murakami isn’t coming in alone. He’s now a central piece in what the White Sox hope will be their next window of contention, surrounded by young, controllable talent.
If things go right, Chicago could be building around a group that includes:
Payroll Signals and the Path to 2027
The Murakami signing nudges Chicago’s projected 2026 payroll to about $84 million. That’s with around $102 million on the books for luxury-tax purposes.
Those are modest numbers by big-league standards. They show a club that’s still more into building than buying—though now there’s a clearer timeline.
The front office seems to have 2027 and beyond circled as the real window for sustained contention. Murakami’s arrival speeds up that vision, at least a bit.
Here is the source article for this story: White Sox To Sign Munetaka Murakami
Experience Baseball History in Person
Want to walk the same grounds where baseball legends made history? Find accommodations near iconic ballparks across America and create your own baseball pilgrimage.
Check availability at hotels near: Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium
Plan your ballpark visit: Get MLB Ballpark Tickets and find accommodations nearby.
- Biographies
- Stadium Guides
- Current Baseball Players
- Current Players by Team
- Players that Retired in the 2020s
- Players that Retired in the 2010s
- Players that Retired in the 2000s
- Players that Retired in the 1990s
- Players that Retired in the 1980s
- Players that Retired in the 1970s
- Players that Retired in the 1960s
- Players that Retired in the 1950s
- Players that Retired in the 1940s
- Players that Retired in the 1930s