The Philadelphia Phillies have been eyeing the Japanese market for a while now, looking for the right opportunity to bring in international talent that fits their win-now blueprint. But despite a few swings in the past, nothing’s quite connected-at least not yet.
That opportunity came again this offseason when Munetaka Murakami, one of Japan’s premier power hitters, was posted and made available to MLB teams. At just 25 years old, Murakami came with serious intrigue: a left-handed slugger with a historic 56-homer season under his belt in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). But in the end, it was the Chicago White Sox who made the move, locking him in on a two-year, $34 million deal just before the posting window closed.
For Phillies fans wondering if their team was ever seriously in the mix-there’s no clear indication they were. There were whispers, sure, but no strong ties to Murakami’s camp, and no public confirmation of a formal offer. And while the idea of Murakami launching balls into the Citizens Bank Park seats is easy to dream on, the Phillies ultimately decided to pass-and there’s a solid case for why that was the right call.
Let’s start with the swing-and-miss. Murakami’s power is undeniable, but so are the concerns about his contact rate.
According to reporting from ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Murakami struck out in at least 28% of his plate appearances in each of the past three seasons in Japan. That’s a red flag, especially when you consider that his in-zone contact rate-just 72.6%-would’ve ranked second-worst among qualified MLB hitters this past season.
That’s not just a minor adjustment issue; that’s a fundamental challenge when facing MLB-caliber velocity and breaking stuff on a nightly basis.
The Phillies already made a move this offseason to add power with some risk, bringing in Adolis García. He’s another big bat with swing-and-miss tendencies, but he’s proven himself against MLB pitching and brings elite defense and postseason experience to the mix. Adding Murakami on top of that would have doubled down on volatility, and that’s a tough sell for a team trying to maximize a championship window.
Then there’s the glove. Murakami has primarily played third base in Japan, but there are real questions about whether he can stick at the hot corner in the majors.
Most evaluators project him to eventually slide over to first base-a position the Phillies already have locked down with a franchise cornerstone. There’s simply no clear path for Murakami to get everyday reps in Philadelphia without forcing a square peg into a round hole.
So while the White Sox were able to swoop in late and land Murakami on a short-term deal, the Phillies’ front office looked at the full picture-offensive upside, swing-and-miss risk, defensive limitations, and roster fit-and decided to stay out. And given how calculated their moves have been in recent years, it’s hard to argue with that approach.
Philadelphia isn’t in the business of flashy signings for the sake of headlines. They’re building with purpose, and every roster spot matters.
Murakami may end up proving the doubters wrong in Chicago-and if he does, good on him. But for the Phillies, the decision to pass wasn’t about fear of the unknown.
It was about knowing exactly what they need-and what they don’t.