🔗 Share this article

In a significant move for their retooling roster, the Chicago White Sox have officially added slugger Munetaka Murakami, agreeing to a $34 million contract with the high-profile player.

Contract Details and Added Benefits

The agreement features a $1 million signing bonus, issued within 30 days, combined with salaries of sixteen million for the 2026 season and $17M for the 2027 year.

Notably, Murakami's 2027 salary may grow based on performance achievements in 2026:

• An additional $1M for being named the league MVP award.
• Half a million dollars for finishing as runner-up or in third place in MVP voting.
• A quarter-million for placing between fourth and tenth.
• $250,000 for winning the top rookie honor.

The contract provides that he cannot be sent to the farm system without his consent and makes him a free agent at the conclusion of the term. Further benefits include a dedicated interpreter and airfare between Japan and the U.S..

Posting Fee and Team Legacy

As part of the transaction, Chicago must pay a posting fee of roughly $6.58 million to the Yakult Swallows, Murakami's longtime team in Japan's NPB. The Yakult organization get a supplemental fee of fifteen percent triggered incentive payments.

Murakami is set to become the fourth Japanese to play for the South Siders, joining pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Of note, Takatsu once managed Murakami while both were in Japan.

On-Field Accomplishments

Murakami, a left-side batter who turns 26 in February, joins a young group of offensive players in Chicago that also features prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox are coming off a difficult season, finishing last in the division but representing a significant improvement from the prior campaign.

The winner of back-to-back Most Valuable Player honors in '21 and '22, Murakami made history with a monumental 2022 season where he belted 56 home runs, eclipsing the all-time record for a NPB hitter previously held by icon Sadaharu Oh. That feat also made him the most youthful hitter ever to secure Japan's elusive Triple Crown.

His 2023 season was curtailed to 56 games due to an muscle issue. Even with striking out often, he hit .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs.

Over his career tenure with the Swallows, Murakami has accumulated a .270 lifetime batting average with 246 homers, 647 runs batted in, and 977 Ks in 892 contests. He started playing mainly at first, he has spent most of his time to the hot corner.

International Pedigree

Murakami's clutch hitting were on center stage during the 2023 WBC. In the semifinal against Mexico, he delivered a victory-sealing two-base hit that brought home two fellow Japanese stars for a come-from-behind 6-5 win. The following day in the championship game against the United States, he blasted a tying homer in the second inning, setting the stage for Japan's subsequent title triumph.

The lefty slugger is set to be unveiled at a media availability on the coming Monday.