The Chicago White Sox made one of the more surprising moves of the offseason by landing Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami on a two-year, $34 million deal. And not just surprising because of who signed him - a rebuilding club that lost 102 games last season - but also because of how relatively modest the contract was for a player with Murakami’s pedigree and raw power.
Let’s start with the bat, because that’s the headline here. Murakami launched 22 home runs in just 56 games (224 plate appearances) in Nippon Professional Baseball this past season after returning from offseason elbow surgery.
That’s an eye-popping power pace, especially considering that 22 homers also happened to lead the entire White Sox roster in 2025. Murakami isn’t new to this kind of production, either - he hit a jaw-dropping 56 bombs in 2022 and has four other seasons with 30-plus homers under his belt.
His exit velocity data backs it up, too. This isn’t just a case of a guy feasting on smaller parks in Japan - the power is real.
But there’s risk baked in here, and it’s mostly tied to the swing-and-miss. Early in his career, Murakami paired his power with solid discipline, striking out in the low 20s percentage-wise and walking at a healthy clip.
That balance is what made him such a tantalizing prospect. But more recently, the strikeout rate has crept north of 28%, including a 29.5% clip in his last full, healthy season.
That’s a red flag. His setup - with his hands extended far from his body - is typical in NPB but can leave hitters exposed to velocity on the inner half, especially when facing the kind of heat and movement MLB pitchers bring every night.
It’s hard to see that K rate improving against better arms.
To put it in perspective, a 28.1% strikeout rate - Murakami’s best mark over the past three seasons - would’ve ranked among the top 10 highest in MLB last season for qualified hitters. And half of those players were below league average in terms of offensive production (wRC+).
In today’s game, high strikeout rates aren’t the death sentence they used to be - if you’re doing enough damage when you do connect. But that’s a thin line to walk, especially for a player transitioning to a new league.
Still, there’s upside here. Murakami’s power is legitimate, and he’s shown the ability to draw walks, which gives him a chance to be a net positive offensively even if the strikeouts remain high. He’s not the kind of athlete who’s going to beat you with his legs or glove, but if he can slug and get on base, he doesn’t have to be.
From the White Sox’s perspective, this is a smart roll of the dice. They’re not in win-now mode, and they had a glaring need at first base after trading Andrew Vaughn to Milwaukee.
In September, they were starting Lenyn Sosa at first - a player with a 3.3% walk rate and just league-average production. Sosa might stick as a utility guy, but he’s not the long-term answer at any infield spot.
Murakami gives them a potential upgrade at either corner - he’s a third baseman by trade, though his defense there is fringy. They could plug him in at first, or slide Miguel Vargas (who struggled mightily at third) across the diamond instead.
And the contract? It’s a low-risk, high-reward move.
Two years, $34 million is a relative bargain for a 25-year-old with 50-homer upside. If Murakami hits, the Sox could flip him at the trade deadline or next winter for a real return - think back to their signing of Erick Fedde out of the KBO before 2024.
That move eventually netted them Vargas and a pair of intriguing prospects in Jeral Perez and Alexander Albertus. There’s a clear precedent here, and it’s a smart play for a team that isn’t trying to win in 2025 but is looking to build something sustainable.
As for why other teams didn’t jump in? The strikeout concerns likely scared off some contenders, and the short-term nature of the deal might not have aligned with everyone’s plans.
One team that might’ve made sense is San Diego. The Padres got little to no production from first base last season and don’t have a clear DH option.
They recently signed Sung Mun Song out of the KBO to play second, which pushes Jake Cronenworth to first - but if Song doesn’t pan out, they could be looking at two soft spots in the lineup. Murakami might’ve been a better fit there than most places.
But for now, it’s the White Sox who take the swing. And while there’s no guarantee it connects, the upside is worth the gamble - especially for a team that desperately needs a spark and has nothing to lose.