White Sox Land Japanese Slugger Munetaka Murakami with $34M Deal
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The Chicago White Sox have made a significant addition to their lineup with the signing of Japanese superstar Munetaka Murakami to a $34 million, two-year contract. The 25-year-old slugger, who turns 26 in February, joins a promising group of young hitters, including Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. Murakami, a two-time Central League MVP, brings a wealth of experience to the table, with a career average of .270 and 246 home runs in 892 games. The corner infielder, who batted .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs this season, will be eligible for free agency at the end of the contract. The deal includes a $1 million signing bonus and salaries of $16 million in 2026 and $17 million in 2027, with the potential for escalators based on Murakami's performance in 2026. He will also receive a team-provided interpreter and flight reimbursement between Japan and the U.S. Murakami's signing marks the fourth time a Japanese-born player has joined the White Sox, following in the footsteps of Shingo Takatsu, Tadahito Iguchi, and Kosuke Fukudome. The team will pay a posting fee of $6,575,000 to Yakult, Murakami's Central League team, and a supplemental fee of 15% of any triggered escalators. Murakami's impressive resume includes a game-ending double in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and a tying home run in the championship game. He hit 56 homers in 2022 to break Sadaharu Oh's record for a Japanese-born player in Nippon Professional Baseball, becoming the youngest player to earn Japan's Triple Crown. The White Sox, who finished last in the AL Central with a 60-102 record this year, hope Murakami's addition will help them improve their performance in the coming seasons.
