Pirates Watch Another Opportunity Slip Away as Munetaka Murakami Heads to Chicago
There are offseason misses, and then there are moments that feel tailor-made for a franchise to take a leap. For the Pittsburgh Pirates, the chance to land Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami looked like one of those moments - and once again, it passed them by.
Murakami, the 25-year-old left-handed power hitter and Japan’s single-season home run king, is heading to the South Side on a two-year, $34 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. It’s a surprising move - not just because of where he landed, but because of who didn’t land him.
This is the kind of swing the Pirates have been teasing for years. A bold, calculated risk on a young, high-upside bat who doesn’t cost you prospects.
A move that signals you’re serious about contending, not just talking about it. And yet, when the dust settled, Pittsburgh was once again on the outside looking in.
Let’s be clear: Murakami isn’t a guaranteed superstar. But he checks a lot of boxes for a team that’s been starving for power and searching for a middle-of-the-order threat.
He’s young. He’s available.
And perhaps most importantly, he didn’t require a trade package - just a financial commitment. For a front office that preaches flexibility and long-term vision, this was a clean shot.
And they let it go.
This isn’t just about Murakami. It’s part of a pattern.
The Pirates have already swung and missed on similar profiles this winter - Kyle Schwarber was in their sights. So was Josh Naylor.
Both slipped away. Murakami was the next logical target.
A global name with massive power potential. And yet, once again, “interest” didn’t translate into action.
From the outside, it feels like another case of circling the runway but never taking off. Another offseason where the Pirates were in the conversation but not at the table. And for fans who’ve been told the team is ready to compete, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
But here’s where it gets complicated - because Murakami isn’t a slam dunk either.
Yes, he’s got tape-measure power. The kind that makes scouts sit up in their chairs.
But there are real concerns about how his game translates to MLB. His strikeout numbers in Japan were already on the high side, and evaluators have raised questions about his ability to handle elite velocity and advanced breaking stuff.
That’s not a small detail - it’s a big one, especially when you’re talking about a $17 million-per-year investment.
Defensively, the picture is murky too. While Murakami played third base in Japan, many MLB teams see him more as a designated hitter than a corner infielder. That’s a problem for a team like Pittsburgh, which already has defensive logjams and can’t afford to stash a bat-only player without clear upside.
So yes, it’s possible the Pirates dodged a bullet. It’s possible Murakami struggles to adjust. It’s possible this ends up looking like a smart non-move.
But here’s the thing: fans are tired of hearing that.
Because at some point, you have to take a swing. You have to be the team that finds out whether a bet pays off - not the one watching from the sidelines while someone else rolls the dice. Especially when the price tag, by today’s standards, wasn’t outrageous.
This was a moment that could’ve said, “We’re serious.” Instead, it feels like more of the same.
Whether Murakami turns into a star or not, the Pirates won’t be the ones to find out. And that - more than any red flag in his scouting report - is what stings the most.