🔗 Share this article

In a notable move for their overhauling roster, the Chicago White Sox have officially added Japanese star Munetaka Murakami, finalizing a lucrative contract bringing in the power-hitting player.

Contract Details and Added Benefits

The contract grants a seven-figure signing bonus, to be paid within 30 days, in addition to salaries of $16M for the upcoming season and $17M for the final year.

Additionally, Murakami's 2027 salary is subject to escalators based on performance achievements in 2026:

• A seven-figure bonus for earning the MVP award.
• $500K for finishing second or third in MVP voting.
• A quarter-million for placing in the top ten.
• $250,000 for earning the ROY honor.

His deal includes that he cannot be sent to the minor leagues without his approval and grants him a unrestricted player at the end of the term. Further benefits include a club-supplied interpreter and travel costs between Japan and the U.S..

Compensation and Historical Context

As part of the transaction, Chicago must pay a posting fee of $6,575,000 to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Murakami's longtime team in Japan's NPB. The Swallows get a additional payment of fifteen percent triggered salary escalators.

Murakami is set to become the fourth-ever Japanese to represent the White Sox, following reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Of note, Takatsu was a manager for Murakami while both were in Japan.

On-Field Accomplishments

Murakami, a left-side batter who turns 26 on February 2nd, enters a emerging group of offensive players in Chicago that contains prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox are coming off a last-place season, placing last in the AL Central but showing a 19-game improvement from the previous campaign.

The winner of back-to-back Central League MVP honors in 2021 and 2022, Murakami is famous for a record-breaking 2022 season where he launched 56 home runs, eclipsing the longstanding record for a Japanese-born player previously held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That feat also made him the youngest player ever to secure Japan's coveted Triple Crown.

His 2023 season was limited to 56 games due to an side strain. Even with recording 64 times, he hit .273 with 22 HRs and 47 driven in.

Over his career tenure with the Swallows, Murakami has posted a .270 batting average with 246 homers, 647 runs batted in, and nearly 1,000 strikeouts in 892 contests. He started playing primarily at first, he has spent most of his time to third base.

International Pedigree

Murakami's big-game performance were on center stage during the 2023 WBC. In the penultimate game against Mexico, he delivered a game-ending double that scored teammates for a come-from-behind 6-5 win. The following day in the title match against the United States, he blasted a game-tying homer in the early innings, paving the way for Japan's subsequent title triumph.

The power hitter is set to be officially presented at a introductory event on the coming Monday.