🔗 Share this article

In a significant move for their rebuilding roster, the Chicago White Sox have officially added infielder Munetaka Murakami, agreeing to a lucrative contract for the power-hitting player.

Deal Structure and Added Benefits

The agreement grants a substantial signing bonus, payable within 30 days, combined with compensation of $16 million for the next season and $17M for the final year.

Notably, Murakami's final-year pay may grow based on award achievements in 2026:

• A seven-figure bonus for earning the MVP award.
• Half a million dollars for placing as runner-up or in third place in MVP voting.
• $250K for finishing between fourth and tenth.
• $250,000 for being named the top rookie honor.

His deal provides that he cannot be assigned to the farm system without his permission and makes him a free agent at the end of the deal. Further benefits include a team-provided interpreter and flight reimbursement between his home country and the States.

Transfer Payment and Franchise History

As part of the transaction, Chicago is obligated to provide a posting fee of over $6.5 million to the Yakult Swallows, Murakami's former team in Japan's NPB. The Yakult organization are also entitled to a 15% cut of fifteen percent triggered performance bonuses.

Murakami is set to become the fourth Japanese-born to play for the White Sox, joining reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Interestingly, Takatsu previously coached Murakami during their time in Japan.

Player Profile

Murakami, a left-handed hitter who will turn 26 in February, joins a promising core of hitters in Chicago that includes prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The team are finished with a difficult season, finishing last in the division but showing a notable improvement from the year before campaign.

A two-time league MVP honors in 2021 and 2022, Murakami is famous for a historic 2022 season where he hit 56 home runs, breaking the single-season record for a Japanese-born player previously held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That year also made him the most youthful hitter ever to win Japan's prestigious Triple Crown.

His most recent NPB campaign was shortened to 56 games due to an oblique injury. Even with recording 64 times, he batted .273 with 22 home runs and 47 runs batted in.

Over his eight-year tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has accumulated a .270 batting average with 246 homers, 647 RBI, and nearly 1,000 strikeouts in 892 games. He started playing mostly at first, he has since transitioned to the hot corner.

International Pedigree

Murakami's big-game performance were on center stage during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the semi-final against Mexico, he delivered a walk-off two-base hit that brought home two fellow Japanese stars for a come-from-behind one-run win. The following day in the title match against the USA, he slugged a equalizing homer in the second inning, setting the stage for Japan's subsequent championship win.

The new White Sox addition is slated to be officially presented at a media availability on Monday.