The Chicago White Sox are making a bold move to shake up their rebuild, landing Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami on a two-year, $34 million deal-a significant swing for a team that’s been stuck in the mud for the better part of three seasons.
Murakami, just 25 years old, isn’t your typical international signing. He’s a legitimate power bat with a track record that jumps off the page.
Back in 2022, he crushed 56 home runs, setting the single-season record for a Japan-born player in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). That’s not just a flash-in-the-pan number-it’s the kind of production that forces front offices to take notice, and clearly, the White Sox did.
Even with an oblique injury limiting him to just 69 games last season, Murakami still posted a .286/.392/.659 slash line with 24 home runs and 52 RBIs. That’s a pace that translates-especially when you consider the consistency he’s shown over eight seasons with the Yakult Swallows.
His career numbers in NPB? A .270/.394/.557 slash line, 246 home runs, 647 RBIs, and even 59 stolen bases across 892 games.
Simply put, this is a hitter who knows how to do damage.
What makes this deal even more intriguing is the price tag. Murakami was widely expected to command a nine-figure contract, especially as the youngest player on the open market.
Instead, he lands in Chicago on a short-term deal-one that could end up being a steal if he adjusts quickly to MLB pitching. The total financial commitment for the White Sox comes to $40.575 million, including a $6.575 million posting fee paid to the Swallows.
Murakami steps into a White Sox infield that’s still very much in flux. With Miguel Vargas likely penciled in at third base and Lenyn Sosa in the mix, Murakami figures to slot in at first base or designated hitter. That flexibility should help the White Sox maximize his bat while easing his transition to the big leagues.
This is also a statement move from a team that desperately needs a new direction. The White Sox have lost 100 or more games in each of the past three seasons and haven’t posted a winning record since 2021. Adding a two-time Central League MVP with elite power potential isn’t a fix-all, but it’s a start-and it signals that the front office isn’t content to sit in the cellar.
It’s also worth noting: this is the largest free-agent contract the White Sox have handed out since the Andrew Benintendi deal ahead of the 2023 season. That one was five years, $75 million. Murakami’s deal is shorter, but it could have just as much-if not more-impact if he becomes the middle-of-the-order threat the Sox have been missing.
For a team looking to re-establish its identity, Murakami represents more than just a bat. He’s a potential franchise cornerstone, a player with proven star power overseas, and now, a fresh face in a White Sox clubhouse that’s overdue for some electricity.